LA Weight Loss - LAWL Losers & Friends - April '05

Hi - I guess I should tell you all that if you decided NOT to go with the lites, and you were moved to the higher plan (like red), don't eat the lites or bars in addition to the full food. The extra starch and half protein is supposed to make up for the lites. Does this make sense?

And yes, the recipe/combination thing -- all of us always want new ideas, so keep em coming. There is a LAWL cookbook, too . . . you can sometimes find them on ebay, and often times your center will have leaflets with recipes for the various holidays.

My experience with most published recipes is that the protein sizes are way different, but they are good springboards for ideas.

Haylo, just one more thought on your adventure tomorrow - try not to go hungry. I find that if I start off hungry at a food fest, I go downhill quickly. (note -you may have better control than I have!)

Mandy- that suede jacket sounds terrific, and so do shoes, and I totally understand about the pants fitting right! My question was - how about some sort of reward NOW that doesn't require a particular size?

Julie

TextJewel: Thanks for the tip, my counselor also suggested taking a bar with me just in case. I wanted to ask you since you mentioned it or anyone for that matter. I notice that you wrote that if they put you on a higher plan because you refuse the lites then you don't eat the bars. I was wondering, because I am on the red plan not because I have refused the bars, but because of the amount of exercise I do. So if I decide not to do a lite, is the procedure to exchange it for a 1/2 protein and a startch. I know I can substitute for another bar like the others have suggested, and Mandy suggested substituting with string cheese. Just wondering, because I am having a little difficulty getting alternate substituions from my center they are really pushing the lites.

I think next time I go I am going to tell them that I bought some off of ebay. Just so they will not bother me about buying products everytime I go.

haylo, they will push the lites - they make money on them! And when we start substituting things it just makes it too difficult for them to check our diaries and to pinpoint the problem (if we are having one). . . At some point, a couple of months ago, Aphil (our moderator) suggested an egg and a yogurt for a lite substitution - basically what you're looking for is about 180 calories with a fair amount of protein and not much fat. . . you can try 100-110 cals of cheese instead of the yogurt (I think that's what Mandy is doing with the string cheese). Also, if you want something crunchy and sweet, you can use luna bars - they usually run for about 1.50 in the stores, but sometimes you can find them on sale, or buy them off ebay, etc. .

Does this help?

Julie

It does take time but eventually they WILL stop trying to push stuff at you. Starving student will work very well. My center has stopped pushing the supplements at me (but occasionallyl I get a new counselor). I have read that you can get them to put something in your file like NO SALE to indicate that you don't want to buy anything extra.

Julie that was very helpful, Thank you very much for all you insight. I think when my samples run out I will try those Luna bars that everyone is talking about.

By the way the only reason I haven't gotten off of this message board, is because I am trying to avoid doing work for school. He,He, :lol:

Haylo (is that your real name???) - anyway, you angel, I'm putting stuff off too - I'm going to brush my teeth and get ready for bed. . .what are you working towards in school?

Always glad to help - the real purpose of the whole thing is not to drive us crazy, it's just to eat right and lose weight!

Hey gals - ! I'm trying to get DD put to bed and then I have to pack - I think the last time I took an overnight trip anywhere was for Mary Kay Seminar last July - I'm out of practice!! We're only going to be gone one night but I still feel frazzled. I think what threw me is that we were at the store picking up snacks for the drive, and I grabbed some grape juice for DD and then realized after we got home that it probably wasn't the best choice, color-wise...

Anyway, I was good and got myself some of that lite raspberry lemonade (Minute Maid brand, I think) and some whole grain, mixed-berry granola bars. It's not water and veggies, I know, but it's a better choice than Mt. Dew and chocolate chip cookies and Pringles, which was my preferred road trip snack back in the "good old days!" :rolleyes:

I REALLY have to get DD in bed and then concentrate some more on what I'm doing, so I can't chat - but everybody have a GREAT OP weekend and I'll catch up with you on Sunday night!

Ciao.... :grouphug:

Fiona

Julie: I am working on my Master's in Speech Therapy. I am working on a Thesis this semester so much of my time is spent at the computer. By the way Haylo is not my real name. My real name is Janelle, Haylo is the name of my cat, I adopted her about 13 years ago from the Humane society (and that was her name, I decided to keep) but I like to use her name as a screen name it reminds me to behave in all aspects of life. I do have to say that my cat is a real angel and definatly deserves the name they gave.

Fiona - sounds like you are starting off right! Have a terrific trip! See you Sunday.

I like Haylo! It's got a great spelling, makes you think. WTG on working so hard on something you really want. I'm trying to learn a little of that determination, too. .

Anyway, sorry to leave you, but my eyes are crossing!

Good Morning everyone. Karen/Rusty, are you out there yet? I'm just visiting for a few minutes.

Haylo, if you decide to do the plan without the LA Lites (wish I did that), and decide to use the Luna bars be aware that when you put the Luna bar in your diary the center will probably tell you that it's not on plan, and continue to try to sell you the LA Lites. Or, at least my center would.

Went to WI and was up .4 and had to purchase more weightloss weeks. I only purchased 4 as I plan on reaching my goal by the end of this month. I'm about ready to through in the towel with this last amount of weight. I don't think they will change my goal, but if give me a hard time, I'll work on them. I still want to go to LA each week for WI, but this up/down thing is starting to get to me. I'm headed to outdoor market. Have a nice day everyone.

Sy

Sy, have fun at the market (you foodie, you!) Have you thought about getting some help from the nutrionist? Tell them exactly how much you exercise, and be religious about your diary. The expert should be able to get you past this plateau. And .4 is tough mentally, when you're so focused right now. It seems to me that you've been pretty much a model client, and they should give you some extra help. I am sure that you are not the first person who's had a rough patch this close to goal.

For the rest of you chickies, hope you have a good POP day! I'm hoping to get back to exercise today -I've slacked the past three days because of TOM monster and outside commitments.

Hugs!
Julie

Good Morning everyone. I was reading some of the posts from yesterday and saw that some of you don't eat the bars but substitute with other food. Also read that someone is not buying the supplements. I'm on the Gold plan. Just wondering if maybe I should try to go without the bars and see if I can move from my plateau. Also, do you think the supplements are a must?? I have a week moment last night. Got together with friends and had pizza and a beer!!!http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=816868#
Hope to drink a ton of water today and eat good!!!

Marcie, are you taking the supplements? I think most of us here are NOT taking the supplements. If I remember right, you haven't been on the plan that long? It's probably just that your body is adjusting right now and will start losing again. One thing you can do, is there are lites that are hot chocolate or shakes - these have less calories - you could check with your center about these.

About pizza and beer -these can be handled on plan - 1 slice of pizza is a CC (or 1 P) for the gold plan. Also I think a beer is a starch? These should be in your plan guide, or check with your center. I think 3oz of wine is a fruit.

But, life does happen - if we were perfect we wouldn't be human. Keep up with those H20 cocktails!

Hugs,
Julie

Good Morning Chicks...
Sy...I'm here..I had alot of posts to catch up on since I left here yesterday... :cool:
I got on the scales this morning and was down .6... :D I'm ready to get my first week out of the way so I can see how I'm going to lose...Like I said, I usually lose alot in my first week on any plan..
As far as the lites go, I started off with the LA lites. I bought them from the center at first and then I started buying them off Ebay. Then I switched to the Luna bars, which I also bought off Ebay and sometimes Walmart or Target. My favorite are the Nutz over Chocolate... :twirly:
On the supplements, The only thing I have bought were the carb enders and I don't see where they made a difference. I had a very bad center. On the old plan, they wouldn't give me the carb cravers plan unless I bought the carb enders. I really had the center from HELL... :yikes:
Well, today is the day my DH is trying to quit smoking. I think I better call and check on him... :lol:
I'll be here all day... ;)

Good Morning Sy, Marci and Julie

You ladies are up early and raring to go. :wave: I just had my breakfast of chicken breast/potato steamed in a little broth (as you may know I am doing the 6WBMO by Michael Thurman). I also have chicken thawing out. I boiled about 4 dozen eggs last night because my son and I eat alot of the whites. I have my precious grand daughter who I know won't stay inside today so I'm hurrying with my housework before she wakes up. I want to rake anyway. Had my physical stuff yesterday - I was up three pounds from the last weigh in four months ago (ug). So I'm really gonna be good this weekend and take that right off. ;) THey also scheduled an MRI for my side ache I always have - every one believes its scar tissue from my appendix 40 years ago that is pressing on a nerve and giving me a side ache. :( Anyway I said I wanted the MRI to make I didn't have a tumor pressing on something first - so well see. Otherise I guess I'll be having exploratory surgery this summer. :mad: Scared I am.

Any ways my (almost 4 years old) GD and I are going to color the eggs today just like we did for easter. SHe had so much fun I want to do it again. And hey - then we know which eggs are boiled and which aren't. Good reasoning to spoil her right :lol:

I met my daughter and my sister yesterday at Country Kitchen. THey had omelets, toast, hash browns. etc. I had a grilled chicken salad with dressing on the side - it was good - probably because the chicken had salt on it. I enjoyed it. Oh a few croutons too but that was my carb.


Okay I'm gonna check back - see if Karen is at work yet- By the way Karen - I am so happy you've found a plan that works - I have too. I have seriously thought about doing the WW too. But I think I want to loose the weight doing the 6WBMO and then choose LAWL or WW to maintain. Those plans I can live with.

By the way my blood pressure was 130 over 68 yesterday. For me that is fantastic. Considering I was 160 over 90 a year ago - and this I am doing with exercise. Makes me realize how important my exercising it.


Catch you all later.
Happy Thoughts!

I am taking the supplements. I'm taking the multivitamins, Fat blockers and the Tri-Max. But I really feel like they aren't doing much. I definitely won't buy any more. I'll check about the other lites...I just hate to spend more money there!!!

Haylo, I substitute the LA Lites w/Luna Bars and find them on amazon sometimes for .66 ea. You can find them for 15/9.99 or the most is 12.99 for 15 which is cheaper than at Target, and if you buy over $25 there is no shipping. Just an FYI. And I kind of fibbed and my center thinks i'm taking the LA Lites that i bought off of ebay. They don't have to know i don't think.

First night at the Yarn cafe was really great!! I love it there!! I was able to help people with questions, and i learned the register (which is computerized, so no biggee). Now my problem is how to have a social life with my new beau. But we'll figure it out. He called me last night which i was so happy about, it was a little late, but he knew i'd just be getting home and we are planning to meet at church tomorrow and then i have to leave right after for work.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Hi again -

just wanted to check in. . .

Beverly, that is so terrific on your BP. Three pounds on the Dr scale - that could be for any reason - like too much salt, or TOM - I'm sure that the next time you go back you'll be down 3x that. We will all keep our fingers crossed for your MRI - I always find those type of things terrifying. Your weekend sounds like fun - now, why didn't my mother think of coloring eggs after Easter season?

Karen/RWF - is your DH just doing it cold turkey, or is he using the patch?

Marci - this is just a thought, but if you have a week of clean eating, and your weight still hasn't budged, you might try the TO (take-off) plan for a couple of days. That's the juice with 6 oz of protein and (I think) 2 servings of green veg, and two lites. . I've done this a couple of times and it seems to break a plateau. The center will recommend their juice, but many of us have used the Knudsen's breakfast blend juice instead.

Michelle - I think I'm jealous. It sounds like you have found the job of your heart. About the beau. It's obvious. You need to teach him to KNIT. And then you can be featured as the knitting couple in Knitters magazine (isn't that a Minnesota publication, anyway).

Enjoy the Spring weather, everyone!

Julie

Hi Julie...DH is quitting using the patches and the Dr. gave him Welbutrin. He said he's doing pretty good right now. He's staying pretty busy so far this morning.. :lol: Later will be the test when he drinks a beer... :^: He did make it through the coffee this morning, so that's a good thing. One minute at a time.. ;) It's been alittle over 4 1/2 years ago that I quit and every now and then, I still want one but most of the time I can't even stand the smell of them and I smoked for 25 years.... :lol:

Karen, I've heard that's an effective combo. I just need to get the pounds under control a little better before I tackle the smoking.

It's funny, but even now, sometimes the smell disturbs me. My mom quit over 25 years ago, hates the smell, but still says if she had one (!) she'd be back up to a pack a day.

Well, Hello everyone just thought I would say hi. I haven't gone to the Strawberry festival yet. I think we are going tomorrow, so today I am on plan. YEAH! Well, I got to start reading but just wanted to tell everyone to have a good day.

Julie...I know what you mean about getting the weight under control first. When I quit, I gained 15 pounds right off the bat and of course have eventually gained more over time... :o I would probably go back to smoking in a heart beat if I wouldn't have lost my Mom to lung cancer. I swore that a cigarette would never touch my lips again..I know I sound alittle dramatic but I watched my Mom suffer so much over a two year period. Surgury, chemo, radiation, etc...
Ok, now on to a better subject.. Are you still doing the Project You? I'm really going to try and get back to this exercising. I know I feel better when I do. I sit on my butt all day at work so I have to start doing something..I can't be all flabby when I get the weight off... :lol:

Julie, you made me lol re: teaching beau to knit. I don't think it'd ever happen. I think he has adult ADD. He is very fidgety and doesn't like to sit. But oh well.

I quit smoking in 1992 and in general i don't like the smell, but sometimes i get a whiff and it's STILL appealing. Ewwwww It's a hard thing to give up, but anyone can do it.

I sure hope everyone is out enjoying some beautiful weather instead of being stuck inside like me... ;) Although, I have been out on the golf cart quite a bit today trying to soak up some sunshine... :D

Well were finished coloring eggs - I'm not sure what has more color on it - her hands or the eggs - I dried them all so now each one is getting a sticker while she watches sponge bob. I've been outside almost all day with her - raking. Except for one thing- She wanted to make sand castles in her sand box so I poured some water into it and showed her how to make a castle (pail upside down) and she was thrilled - then I showed her another and another - well this grandma had the time of her life being a kid again- :o

I have four loads of laundry washed, three folded and now we need to take a break and go to town to see my mom and step dad - THey adore Katie and see her alot less than me so I always like to bring her down. Geez I'm tired - all that fresh air and going to bed at midnight will take its toll on a person.

Okay gotta run - she's way to quiet.

Hugs

Ok Chicks...I'm just about out of here for today. ... :dizzy: I work from 12-5 tomorrow but maybe I'll be back on in the morning before work. Talk to you all later... ;)

Good morning, chickies!

Had a writing afternoon with some friends yesterday, then we went out to dinner - I was NOT good, and the scale showed it this morning. Oh well, I guess I am human! I go to WI on Tuesday or Wednesday, hopefully, I can re-lose the water weight by then!

Karen, I haven't worked out since Tuesday! I'm a coordinator for a contest and my living room floor (my workout space) is covered with envelopes. I have to get them all organized today so I have space to restart - and they will be going into the mail tomorrow, so that will be done, too.

The nice thing - I saw old friends at lunch on Friday - one of them noticed I looked thinner. That was a nice plus!

Beverly, I always enjoy your stories about your DGD. Does she enjoy other sort of crafting stuff? I seem to remember cutting designs into half of a potato and stamping brown paper bags. . .Of course this is more paint for you to clean up.

Michelle, even if he won't learn to knit, he can learn to wind the skeins into balls, right? Do you have one of those nifty ball winders? Thanks for telling me your success story about the smoking. I know it is possible, but have to want to do it first!

Haylo - have fun at the festival!

Hugs to all,

Julie

Good Morning LA losers!!! :wave:

How is everyone this morning?? It's going be a GREAT day here. :yes: I have a DUMB question. . . . . . . . I know we talk about the bars a lot here but something is still not clear to me. I realize that you don't HAVE to do the bars, but if you don't will you get a refund at the end not using the bars?? I like the bars but right now with my job situation, money is tight, especially after just paying all the money to join LA. What about the vitamins? I can't take all the "other pills" but only take the Calcium, Vita Max, and EFA. If I don't buy them from LA will that mess up my refund? But you know I was thinking, At $28/week plus the cost of the vitamins, I might not get the refund but I would be saving lots of money. Hum.....................

Julie~ Glad you had a good time with your friends yesterday, and doing"bad" is over just start over today. It's a fresh new day, a new beginning. Yes, I remember doing the potato stamps too. In fact I have done them with my daughters. ;) An inexpensive easy stamp.

Karen/RWF~ What are the Luna bars called at Walmart? Which section are they in? CONGRATULATIONS on losing!!!! I don't feel like I'm losing like I should be. Before if I ate low fat (not even low NA) I lost 3-4 lbs a week. I'm wondering since I'm on the red plan if it's not too much food. Or maybe with the bars it's too much. :goodluck: with Dh stopping smoking!! Remember it will be a rough time but you WILL get through it. Take one day at a time. :dz:

BAS~ We'll be praying that your MRI goes well and that you won't need exp. surgery this summer. So you can put all fears to rest. We eat egg white too. But it sure is hard to throw those beautiful yellows out. We have chickens, so ours are as fresh as you can get. ;) Good for you exercising to get your BP down. And it seems to be working fantastically!!! WTG!!!! Have lots of fun with that special DGD. Sounds like she is a fun age!

Marci~ I'm kinda like you. I'm not sure the vitamins are working. The only one I know that is working is the EFA. And we need that one everyday.


Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in the function of brain chemicals, particularly serotonin and dopamine. Studies have shown that low levels of omega-3 fatty acids (found in cold-water fish such as tuna and salmon), or a high ratio of omega-6 fatty acids (found in certain vegetable oils, such as corn and soybean oils) to omega-3 fatty acids, may be associated with depression. A typical American diet is high in omega-6 compared to omega-3 fatty acids. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids on a regular basis helps maintain an appropriate balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, and although unproven, restoring this balance may help with feelings and symptoms of depression.

Janelle~ You enjoy that Strawberry Festival for me too, ya hear? I love strawberries but am now allergic so have one for me.

Michele~ Hope your day goes well today. Have fun!!!

Hope EVERYONE has a GREAT OP day!!!!

Oh, I forgot to mention this. Since I found out about Mrs Dash 10 minute marinade sauce, yesterday I went to www.mrsdash.com and they have some good sounding recipes. You can put in how much fat or sodium, and what type recipe you are looking for and search the site for such. I know they have not been "approved" by LA but if you know how to measure your servings you should be able to figure out whether it would be "legal" or not. LOL I am going to print a few and take it to my WI on Tuesday, just to see what they say. :crazy:

Hi Smiley!

I can't really help you with the refund info - you mean the refund you get after so many weeks in maintainence, right? I do think the lites are required for the refund, but I am not sure. Hopefully, one of the other chickies can help you with that.

When they signed you up, did they offer you a bulk rate on the lites? I did buy mine in bulk in the beginning, and got them for about 20$/double (14 count) box. Often times they'll offer bulk sales, so you can get several at a time.

About the luna's - in my Walmart they are by all the other sports bars - I think the slim fast stuff is at one end of the aisle and the sports bars are at the other end. And they are called Luna's, and come in yummy flavors - s'mores, tropical crisp, chocolate pecan pie. . . I've never really met a luna I didn't like. I can also find them in my grocery store, next to the vitamins, again, with all the sports bars.

It may take you a week or two for your body to adjust - how different is your eating from the last time you were doing low fat? It seems that 3-4 pounds a week is pretty fast loss :?:

I looked for the Mrs. Dash stuff on Friday and didn't see it - hopefuly, they'll get here soon. I'd say a tbsp is a free food, but Sy may have a better take on it.

And thanks for the encouragement! I told myself that about ten times this morning.

I have 56 days until I leave for my trip - I know I can make progress in that amount of time!

Hugs to all!
Julie

Hello Chicks,
I'm back at it again today.. :( It is so nice outside this weekend. I really don't feel like working. DH pulled the boat out yesterday and got it all cleaned up. I would much rather be out on the Lake today instead of being here.. :s:
Oh well, I'm off next weekend and if it isn't raining, you all know where I'll be... :lol:
DH is doing really good with the not smoking. He's really been hungry... :lol: I told him to eat, eat, eat...He can stand to gain a few pounds anyway..
Well, I have alittle bit of work to do (and of course the race is on) I'm so glad there is a TV here...WooHoo... :cool:
I'll check back in alittle bit...

Tomorrow is my WI. Feeling bloated :( at the moment, but hopefully that will be gone tomorrow! I have been reading some back posts and the sense I get is that LAWL discourages combining foods. Guess that will be one of my many questions I ask tomorrow! I also think I will invest in sticky notes to put on my diary days so I can remember all the thoughts I had come up inbetween my WI's.

Hope your Sundays are great!

Cathy

http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/img/bar039/cartoonstar01/lb/210/170/204/ (http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/index.php)

Hello everyone!!! Hopefully things are well. I went to the Strawbery festival and although I did falter a little I didn't think I did to bad. I only had half of a stawberry shortcake and I shared the other half with my mother. I did have a fajita taco, but it was very lean meat on a corn tortilla with gucamole. I also had the worst thing of all a chicken Gordita. Oh and I had two pieces of grilled shrimp. Of course I had to have strawverry also. Although, I know I went a bit off plan, I think it could have been a lot worse. Funny thing was as tempted as I normally am to eat at festivals I found that I couldn't fit a lot of food in my stomach so that is definatly a good thing. I am however, back on plan today

MrsSmiley: When I signed up for LAWL, I chose to do the program without the refund. But I do remember the counselor saying that if you do the one with the refund you have to use the bars in order to get it back. As far as the Luna bars I also found them at Wal-Mart in the section were they sell slim fast stuff. Actually, in my Wal-Mart they are in the same isle as the vitamins. If you take your recipies to WI and they tell you they are okay please let us know. I am interested in those also.

I have also looked for the Mrs. Dash Marinade and could not find it.

BAS: My prayers are with you.

Marci: I got the supplements also, they were part of my joining fee. I got a basket with a bunch of stuff in it. I have been taking them also but I am not sure exactly what they are doing. I do know that it probably good to take some sort of vitamin though. I also agree with MrsSmiley on the EFA, I definatly think a mulitvitamin is a necessity as well.

Tomorrow is my WI also, so Solocat I will be right there with you. I to am wondering about how to combine foods. I ordered a LAWL cookbook CD from Ebay for 9.00 definatly a lot cheaper then the book at the center. I should be recieving it shortly I will let you know how it is.

Would love to hear what the cookbook is like Haylo! I think I might get one off eBay also. But then I am a cookbook junkie! One of my questions I am going to ask tomorrow is about the combining of foods, or maybe I will remember to bring a couple of low-cal recipes I have and see what the counselor says (as in how to count them or what to look for).

I keep reading about the "no refund" if you refuse the LA Lites. Hmmmm....no one said anything to me, and of course I didn't read my contract since I signed it. I'll have to check with a friend who is an attorney. But none-the-less, I joined for the accountability part. One of my biggest temptations had been a co-worker who would bring in tons of chocolates and have them here for us (yes he is a male, the rest of us are females...smart man!). Since I have joined, I find that I am not grazing in the candy stash...in fact in the 12 days since I have started, I have had a total of 4 Hershey's kisses w/ caramel!! Yay!

Spent some time reading back forum posts - thank you all for your valuable insights!

Cathy

Solocat: Good idea about taking recipies. I have a bunch of recipies from when I used to do Weight Watchers I am sure they won't like it if I take a WW's book in so maybe I will make some copies and see what they say.

Solocat: by the way I am a cookbook junkie also!

Hi ladies,

Just put my son to bed and sent my husband off on business trip to NYC for the week. It was so nice here this weekend. I think that even though I didn't do that well eating wise, I got enough exercise between chasing my 2 year old around and doing some spring cleaning. I plan to be really good this week and eat healthy and drink tons of water.

Haylo, Smiley - I was was told about the EFA, but they didn't tell me to buy them as part of my plan. They just about pushed everything else at me. I do remember asking if I could just buy it at the supermarket and the counselor told me that at the supermarket its only Omega 3 not the Omega 3 & 5 that there supplement is. Just wondering how you think it's helping you? Maybe I should look into buying that or do you think I could just get the Omega 3 at the supermarket?

BTW, I found the Mrs Dash marinade. Looking forward to trying something new on my chicken!!!

Hello my lovlies!

Hope everyone had a fantasticly skinny weekend! :) I'm pooped...I feel like I'm trying to get sick. But it's so hard to determine if I'm getting sick or if it's just allergies. Nevertheless, I feel horrid!
I'm havign a difficult time getting my veggies in. What do you all do for the veggies? Where are your favorites? I'd love to hear!

Have a great Monday and stay stong!! :)

Marci: WalMart sells the Omega caplets with both omega 3 & 6. In other words, Fish Oil. I purchased a bottle from LA a few months ago, took the bottle to WalMart and found that they had the same product which was less than 1/2 the price of LA (like I didn't know that already, right - live that learn). I took them for a couple weeks, and stopped. I have a hard time taking pills, vitamins on a regular basis - if I don't see any benefit in taking something I stop.

BAS, I'm going to have to re-read your posts because I don't remember reading you were having some type of medical problem? What did I miss? I'll find out, and in any case, I hope all is well.

The weather here has been beautiful all weekend and is suppose to be all this week as well. From the warmer temps this weekend (hit 60), the buds are all out on the trees and we should see leaves soon. Grass is starting to turn green. I love this time of year!

Fashn: How are you feeling? I don't have real allergies, but this time of year while things are budding, my eyes itch like crazy. TG it only lasts a couple weeks to a month. Happens again in right before fall, that may be golden rod allergy?

MrsSmiley: Please let us know what they say about the receipes. Glad you found the Mrs Dash Marinade. I figure, if we can have BBQ sauce and catsup, we can have Mrs Dash. You should bring the bottle in so they can read the ingredents as if it's not on their listing - it will confuse them. :dizzy:

Well, hope everyone has a great week.

Sy

Good Morning Sy: I probably didn't mention it before - its been a on going thing for about 3 1/2 years now. I get a side ache maybe 1 time a month and the next month I get 10 attacks. I am just getting tired of them popping up unexpectantly. I mentioned it to my gynecologist again like I did a a year ago and this time I requested the MRI to eliminate maybe tumors pressing on my nerves or whatever. THe pain is on the right side of my belly button. Its a very sharp pain where I have to breath through my nose so that my stomach doesn't move. IT usually last less than 15 minutes and I ALWAYS have to empty my bladder to relieve it even faster. I have had every test done to eliminate everything. Thats why they think its scar tissue from my 40 year old appendix pressing on a nerve - ouch.

Boy I wasn't a very good girl this long three day weekend of mine (POP wise) - but I did have sooooooooooo much fun with my DGD. I had bought her some play press on ear rings and of course she wanted to put them on Grandpa and then me and then herself. Well I totally forgot about it and when I came out of SHopko yesterday I looked in the car mirror and lo and behold was one green star on one ear and a red circle on another. :o They weren't even on my lobes of my ears. I just laughed. She sure leaves the memories for grandma.

Okay I gotta get to work - Yep its a Monday again (Ug). When I left THursday my basket was quite big - I can't imagine what another day did to it and I have a board meeting tonight - so a long day. At least it keeps me POP. No time to cheat.

Hugs to everyone!

Think Happy Thoughts

BAS: Glad they are doing an MRI to see if they can find what is causing your distress. Why don't they do that first or at least sooner?

Good morning, chickies!

About the EFA's - I doubt LAWL has a corner on the market on these things - they seem to be on everyones list of a top supplement to take! You can buy either Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil almost anywhere. And I do have a bottle, but I forget to take them :( I need to do better with that and extra calcium. ..okay, goal for the week!)

Beverly - I am sure you brightened the day of many people in that shopko!

Cathy - LAWL doesn't really advise AGAINST combining foods - it's just most combined foods recipes have starch portions bigger, and protein sizes smaller than on the LAWL plan. Because of the difference in the portion sizes, you have to play around with recipes some. And if you make a recipe that has more than one serving (with rice for example) then you have to be careful with taking out your portion. I think they are just trying to keep it simple. And they will not recomend anything that has canned stuff in it because of the sodium content. The one thing I haven't done is combine multiple proteins - like beans and ground turkey - but then I live alone, and have to eat the same thing for several meals usually. I am also a cookbook collector, so I understand the frustration. (I have also done the sticky note thing)

Fashinvictm - hope you feel better! Actually, the veggies are the easy part for me- the tough part is the fruit! I just buy bags of frozen vegies, heads of salad stuff, and have that with my protein.

Sy - the weekend weather was beautiful here, too. The trees are all in flower, and it is wonderful! It's only (!) going to be in the mid 60's here today - well, we were in the 70's yesterday, so I guess it is cooler - I'll still take it!

Marci - where are you from?

Fiona - a horse story PLEASE!

Star - did you get on that fitness trail this weekend??

About the ebay LAWL plans (somebody mentioned these in a past post) - one of the chickies forwarded the copy she had gotten off of ebay to me. The protein sizes off ebay are all the same. This is not the plan that LAWL offers now - it may be a plan from a few years ago. The plan off ebay will probably work fine, although it may not be enough calories if you've got a lot of weight to lose.

I'm already on my 3rd glass of water. . .

Hugs to all, and skinny vibes!

Morning chickies!!! :wave: :wave: :wave:

Well - we bought her!!! :dancer: She is SO wonderful and sweet. I have a feeling I'm going to be going through a LOT of gas in the next few months until we move closer to where my parents live...right now it's a 45 minute drive and I know I'm going to be making it at least a couple times a week. I'll have to borrow my dad's digital camera and see if I can figure out how to post a picture or two. :)

Anyway, I just wanted to get caught up on my reading before heading off to work - I'll post more in a bit. Have a good Monday!

Fiona

Good Monday Morning to ALL!!!!:wave:

I hope everyone is doing well this morning. We had a good weekend. We got all the veggie gardens planted. I can't wait for a couple of months when everything starts ripening. :eating2:

BAS~ Yes, you need to have that MRI. Sorry to hear you are having that pain. Have they ruled out that it could be a ovarian cyst? I have them occasionally and they are very painful. We will say a prayer that the DRS will find the cause and that it won't be anything bad. Hang in there! I hope you didn't take off that gorgeous set of earrings!!! :D

Sy~ Actually, I haven't bought the Mrs Dash marinade but I went to the site and got some recipes. I printed out the labels of the marinades to take to them and get their okay. We will see. Since they have 1.5g fat per TB who knows what they will say. I'm sure the rest is ok. Glad you had a pretty weekend.;)

Fashnvictm~ Hope this finds you feeling much better! Yes, I suffer from allergies too and they can really kick butt. My allergist told me that if I ever feel like I'm getting sick or know it's allergies, to take Benadryl before bed and that will help your body fight off whatever is bothering you. It works for me, but that medicine hangover is sometimes hard to deal with. I just don't seem to be able to take much of anything. I started out eating salads everyday for lunch (2 cups on the red plan) and then having things like steamed broccoli, okra, green beans, brussel sprouts, etc for supper. But two things we like to do is I buy Collard or Mustard greens by the bag at Walmart and cook them and we eat off them all week. But my very favorite veggie is to cut zucchini in half and then in half again and grill on my indoor grill with seasonings like Mrs Dash, pepper, etc.. Yum!!!

Marci~ They would like you to think you can't buy them somewhere else but basically you can. I found several at Walmart and other places that have nearly all the ingredients that theirs has. Borage oil, flax oil, etc.. These are very important though. I have read that if you don't get enough fats in your diet you can become very depressed and lose interest in even staying on the diet. The fats effect your hormones especially your serotonin which effects your moods. I would definitely try to get some.

Haylo~Sounds like the Strawberry Festival was great! Your food choices also sound YUMMY! I love mexican food though. ;) Just start fresh today and don't worry about your past choices. I figured I needed to continue the lites to get the refund but if you think about it the bars are more than the refund would be anyway. $28wk x 25 weeks = $700. And that's not all I have to lose. :faint: I love cookbooks too. I have about 25 or so of nearly every make and model. :lol:

Solocat~ :goodluck: with WI today. Maybe that bloated feeling wasn't "heavy". Have a good day!

Karen~RWF~ Where are you? Maybe I'll come join you in that boat next weekend! :lol: That's one of my favorite things to be out on the lake. Glad your DH is doing well on the STOP:smoking:

Julie~ Yeah, they offered me the bulk bars at a discount but I just laughed. I told them if I had that kind of money for the bars as well as the program money, I could hire me a personal trainer and get it done. :lol: I think I am going to talk with them Tuesday about adjusting my plan. I'm eating on plan but not seeing even the 2 lbs a week. I'm doing everything right, except I'm eating deer meat a couple times a week but it's very lean and shouldn't effect the outcome. They told me to count it like beef and limit it to 2xweek. Soooooooo, I don't know. When I was on WW I lost 2-4lbs every week, even my TOM weeks. Tomorrow is one month after joining and I've lost 7.4lbs and have 150 to lose. With me being so big and having so much to lose, I would have thought I would have lost faster. After all I'm even walking on the treadmill, etc... some days I've walked as much as 3 1/2 miles. Does that sound right to you??

Well, better go and hit the shower. Hope EVERYONE has a GREAT day!!!!

Good Morning Chicks,
I only have a few minutes this morning. I have to work with the manager today... :^: Hopefully she won't be here all day. But anyway, I'm off tomorrow so if I don't get a chance to post anymore today, I'll post from home in the morning... :)
Well, My first week on WW will be over today. I'm down 4 pounds...WooHoo.. :D From now on we'll see how I lose each week and how I handle the 5 days in Talladega in a few weeks... :dizzy: But, I've already decided that I'm going to stay as close to plan as possibe but If I stray, oh well. I'll just get back on plan when I get home... :cool:
But anyway, the witch just flew in on her broom so I'll talk to you all later... :lol:

Smiley....The weather is looking great for the weekend...Come on up... ;)

:coffee: coffee anyone?

Well it took forever to get caught up with all the posts since Friday at 5 :gossip: You chicks were a chatty group.......isn't it great! And Julie you give such great advice - Do you have Nextel? I'd like to get you on my two way 24/7..... :lol:

Went to the gym from my new place for the first time today. The drive isn't bad, I can make it in 20-25minutes. My gym is right down the street from my job, so it's not out of the way. Saw afew friends at the gym and we had to catch up on what's been going on (we haven't seen each other in about 6 months. Thank gosh those treadmills are side by side and you can work out and talk at the same time ;)

Had a great weekend - got some more boxes unpacked. The place is starting to feel more like we really live there. Once that wall art gets hung, I will feel more like I'm 'home'....

About EFA's and other LA supplements. I think the fish oil is important becuz when you a restricted eating plan sometimes you don't get enuf oil/fat in your diet (or calicum). This can cause all kinds of bad side effects; gumbone loss, weak nails, bad skin, hair loss for afew. Who cares how skinny you are if you don't have any teeth or hair :?: I take a vitamin off QVC called 'Hair/Skin&Nails' to cover some of that. LA's prices are just too high.
Trying to figure out if I'm gonna buy anymore Lites when I reactivate my plan at LA, not quite sure yet. I'll think about that while relaxing by the pool, drinking that cocktail :cheers: next week in CA!!!

:cp: :cb: Okay Chicks, I have big news! I had to get all my summer clothes out of storage, try-on and washed for my trip. Secretly I have been sweating the trying on thing for awhile :stress: BUT - everything fit, not only fit, it looked good, better than last year :dancer: :cheers: Matter of fact, I think I packed too much cuz it all looked good....So I was thinking, I know it's the exercise :strong: (Julie, this is yet another non-scale victory) ;)
In the past few weeks I had actually bought some new carpis in fear my last year's ones would not fit ( :?: ) Not until I had already overpacked I remembered the three new pairs of capris, decided to take them back - didn't need em :lol: I posted this here and not in the "Exercise Yard" just so any of you chicks on the border about working out can read this. I am so happy I have worked so hard to try and get in shape this past year, it paid off yesterday :dance: :cheer: TAlk about a slap of motivation, as soon as I get back from CA I headed straight for "center of Doom" :devil: I'm thinking I can still make scale progress by my trip to Park City, UT for July 4th (or what use to be my birthday).

Okay this has gotten too long.......Thanks for listening...........Thanks for being here and HUGS chicks........

:wave:

Julie - I'm from Albany, NY.

Thanks to everyone for the advice on the supplements.

gee, Star, I'm :o (no, I'm not on nextel - I have a pay by the minute cell phone that I try to only use while I'm in the car. So happy for you about the clothes!

This is another Non Scale Victory that I'm hoping for - to fit in a coach airplane seat in 8 weeks!

I agree with what you said about the EFAs - we automatically choose foods with so little fat in them, and we forget that fat is needed. Some vitamins are only fat soluble (I think A, D and E) so we need fat to process them. Plus, stuff like hairs and nails!

Fiona - wtg on the horsie!

Smiley - did you tell your center that you were exercising this much? Were you working out on WW and did you eat your APs? How different is your eating from when you were on WW? I'm just curious. Often times the center will adjust your plan upward if you exercise a lot, since you really do seem to need more calories. Jen found that when she adjusted her plan upward she started losing more. Also, 7.4 pounds is terrific - it may not be as much as you want, but goodness -it is great!

Hugs!
Julie

Starlynn: What a great NSV on the old clothes! You will look awesome in your little capris! I know what you mean about packing. I use to always overpack. You know what somewhat cured me? I went to Schaumburgh, IL for 2 weeks of training in 2000. I took everything but the kitchen sink - never went away to 2 whole weeks - needed everything didn't I? Well, I got to the airport early on the day I was to return. The following morning, DH and I were headed to the Outerbanks of NC for our vacation. Well, I headed home to Syracuse, NY and my clothes headed West to LasVegas. Didn't know this until the Friday night that I got home. Rushed to JC Penney, got some underware, and 2 t-shirts and 2 pair of shorts and headed to NC for our vacation bright and early the next morning. Not even a bathing suit (as that went West too). Since I know it's possible to enjoy myself even with only 2 pair of shorts and 2 shirts - I have cut my traveling packing in 1/2. :lol: It's been a few years, so I can see if creeping up again. LOL! If you take less, you may be able to purchase a few new things, right?! Have a great time!

Sy

ok, I'm sad. I went for my weigh in this morning and I'm up 1.2 pounds! :( I've been so good! My counselor told me to try to get all my starches in early in the day and increase my H20 intake (I currently get about 40oz).

blah!

Sy - Thanks for the packing tips, I need all I can get. I shared this with Julie on her last trip, a packing tip from a friend of mine who travels alot. She only packs outfits, like a pair of capris and a top, a pair of shorts and top. What happens is you know you have outfits and how many, once you get there you can interchange tops/bottoms. That tip helped me alot, since I don't travel all that much. I still have too many shoes :?:
Your right about buying new things, becuz I know we will go shopping. I think tonight I am gonna unpack all those 'outfits' and re-evaluate the situation.....lol Also I took too many 'going places' outfits and not enuf 'margarita chill' on the patio outfits..... :cheers:
Busy weekend - Sat - Got nails/toes, eyebrow wax, bangs trimmed, shopping for summer clothes for GB David and lunch out with him and DIL - :o

Fiona - Congrats on the horse (and almost baby?). Can you ride a horse when it's with pony :?:

Hello ladies! I thought I would be here all weekend, but ended up being busy. I had a lot of reading to do this morning. :) Anyway, I went to the center the other day and they had a cookbook sitting out, so I copied down the taco salad recipe. So here it is:
Taco Salad
31/2 or 51/2 oz raw ground sirloin
dash onion powder
dash of cumin
dash of pepper
1 tomato
lettuce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 oz reduced cheddar cheese

I think the protein portions depends on the plan you are on. Anyway, it's something that is quick to make and tastes yummy. I loooove mexican food, so it helps me with my cravings.

Also I'm so excited. I'm finally under 160!!!!!! I'm at 159.6 :) I can't even believe it. I weighed 155 when I got married and haven't been this close to it for about 5 years. I'm so thrilled. My goal is 149, but it would be great if I could get to 145. That way I have some sort of buffer. We'll see what happens. I think I have about 6 weeks left, so whatever happens in that time... If I lose 2 pounds a week I'll be at 147.6. I could live with that.

Anyway, I've not been going in to the center lately because it's hard to contain my 2 1/2 year old and because I don't feel like I get much out of it. Well, I finally was able to get the counselor that I wanted (she always seemed to not be there when I came in before.) I now know her day off, so I won't go in that day. Anyway, she is just soooo great. She doesn't push products on my and I can tell she really cares about my weight loss goals etc. She even gave me her home phone number incase of a "food emergency". I'm probably only going to go in 1 time a week, (gas prices are just insane) but I'm going to get something out of it. She also gave me one of those free to live success kits. I pretty much knew everything in it (drink your water, how to make healthy choices while eating out) but it was still fun to read. One thing it did say is if you are still hungry at the end of the day it's ok to eat two extra servings of veggies.

Also, I survived two nights in a row of eating out. The first I just had a chicken salad with dressing on the side and the next night I had a chef salad with dressing on the side. I felt so great afterward. I feel like I'm finally able to go out to eat and not go overboard. It feels good.

Julie- I guess I really don't have any non clothing item rewards. I guess you're right even a jacket has to be a certain size. Although I have had highlights put in my hair a couple of times. That was fun. I guess this whole time I was worried about not rewarding myself with food. So clothing was my next option. :) You know what a really good reward would be.... a message! although it's not really an item. :)

Well, It was good to read all of your posts. I hope you're all having a great day!!

Mandy

Star - of course you can! It's like with people - as long as you don't overdo it, it's better to exercise than not. And Bella (the horse) isn't due until the end of June, anyway, so she's not even very big yet, tummy-wise. :)

Fiona

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!! I have been MIA for a few weeks now due to Work/School and a little trip out of town last week. However i have been MIA from the LAWL center for the last two weeks and i havent been OP since January probably. But I owned up to my flaws and went to WI this morning. I was up 4 lbs thats not to bad I guess since I havent been drinking any water or doing anything else OP and have been eating out a lot. I was happy with that ohhhh and its TOM too! So im thinking about doing TO this week still trying to decide what days. Probably Wed/Thur that way going into the weekend i will have a nice loss. So that is the quick update on me. Oh by the way Star you will be pleased my treadmill is waiting on me to get home this afternoon because we have a DATE HAHA :lol:

I have been OP today so far and have gotten two bottles of water in. Im going to make a shopping list sometime after lunch so i can stop on the way home and pick up something for dinner. I also need to get juice to do TO. and one night this week im gonna dig out my LAWL cookbook and dust her off and see what kind of menu i can come up with. School is almost over so i will be able to actually cook more with my spare time.

I do have one good thing to report. My size 22 jeans have been really baggy on me for a while now since i had lost 20 lbs and well i finally got a pair of 20 and WOW the difference! I just need to get back on track and before long ill be down another size :dizzy:

Thats a quick update on myself. I have so much to read and catch up on man! Welcome to all of those who are new. I dont know when ill be able to read all these pages to catch up but im gonna try. Gotta go gotta go gotta go right now........man what water does to you ill check back in later :)

Britt

Hello ladies,

As usual, it seems like it’s been a while. I’ve been reading and really enjoying the posts, especially all the new folk…welcome!! I’m making slow but sure progress and am trying to be happy about, but most of the time I’m just kind of frustrated. I’ve decided I’m going to try a more positive outlook and see if that helps…wish me luck!

Star-Thanks for asking after me. I’m still around. Great news about last year’s clothes, that is such a treat. I too am making non-scale progress. Two weeks ago I bought new pants for work (14s), the 12s were still just a bit too tight. This Friday I’m in the same store and decide to try the 12s again and they fit and pretty well…I’m stunned since the scale is moving only slightly I haven’t been focusing on the benefits of the all that exercise!

Michele-Congrats on the job…sounds perfect for you!

Fiona-Congratulations on the new horse, how exciting…please upload pics when you can.

Fashn-Glad everything worked out with your mom and both of you are staying with the program. As far as veggies go I love most of them, but usually have at least 2 cups of lettuce a day. I keep my salads different by using many different types of dressings. I also use broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and asparagus. I love baby carrots, but usually can’t eat just 6 so I stay away from them…would rather have a larger portion of something else! I’m sorry to hear your weight was up, but the same thing happened to me my first week. I didn’t know what was going on and was really devastated…I felt like if this doesn’t work, what will??? After that I became really dedicated at weighing and measuring everything, so if the program wasn’t working it wouldn’t be my fault and they would have to fix it!

Mandy-I know what you mean about pants. I’m so eager to buy new clothes, since none of my stuff from last spring will fit, but am in a pretty comfortable 12, but with 19lbs to go, I may wind up in a 10…unbelievable…a 10. I do really well on plan all week and then go a little crazy on Sunday nights, then spend the next week making up for my bad night. I think I’m going to make “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels” and tack them on the fridge…maybe that will keep me out!

Karen-Good for your DH!! Mine quit a couple of weeks ago. He’s been using Nicorette gum and it seems to be working for him. He’s probably gained about 10lbs, but we can work on that later.

Sy-Hang in there. I feel your frustration and am rooting for you! I have 19lbs and 14 weeks. I really wanted to go another 5-10 lbs past my original goal, but will see how I feel and where I am in 14 weeks.

Welcome back Britt!!!!

I know I missed a lot of people, but skinny vibes to all (is it Julie that says this?)

I'm finally in the 170s (179.6...though maybe not after that bag of popcorn with all the sodium last night)!!!!

Take care,
Jen

HI Britt - I was wondering what had happened to my birthday buddy! WTG on keeping things under control with as busy as you've been. Enjoy that date with your treadmill tonight!

Hi Jen- GOOD GOLLY -- TWELVES??? And a 10 pound marker!

Mandy - a massage is definately a non clothing reward. Go for it! And wow under 160! You hit one of those 10 pound markers! Thanks for posting the taco salad recipe.

Fashn - the water really can make a difference - for some reason drinking water seems to release extra water we're holding. Also, LAWL suggests the hot lemon water - have you tried that? Don't give up, it will come back off again! Even the clothes we wear to WI make a difference - are you taking meds for the allergies? Maybe that has an effect?

Julie

Thanks Jen and Julie!!!
I thought i would pop back on here for a few im eating lunch right now. Grilled chicken, broccoli, tea and peaches!! Anyway i got on LA's website and found something to make for din din tonight. Just thought i would share it with you.

Famous Philly Cheesesteak: (1 P 2S 1/2 Dairy 1 Fat)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 pound beef sirloin
Nonfat cooking spray
1 onion sliced
1 green pepper sliced
4 6-inch hoagie rolls split
4 oz light mozzarella cheese, sliced

Combine seasonings in a small bowl; rub mixture into sirloin.
Wrap in plastic or wax paper. Partially freeze beef sirloin for about 30-60 minutes.
Remove from freezer and thinly slice sirloin.
Coat large skillet with non fat cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add onion and green pepper; saute until soft and lightly browned. Remove from pan.
Coat skillet again with spray. Increase heat to high; add beef and cook about 5 miutes or until desired level of doneness.
Divide meat and veggies evenly among 4 rolls; top with cheese. If desired place in a warm oven or under a broiler to melt cheese before serving.

478 cal, 44 g pro, 38 g cho, 17 g fat

I think i might try it tonight ill let ya know how it turns out!!
Britt

Britt - I think I will faint - a HOAGIE roll???? It sounds terrific!

I know can you believe that! Did you notice also that it has SALT not mortons. But it came off their web page so im gonna go for it. I am trying to decide on side items now. I figure a salad for me at least. Ohhhh i have a question. What is the rule on pickles? The picture of the cheesesteak it shows a pickle beside it. I would have thought that it would have had to much sodium in them but i cant seem to find anything on them. I know one of you however will know something ;)

Britt

Fiona - Bella sounds beautiful! Pictures pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee and keep us posted on how she's adjusting to her new family!

Britt - Welcome back chick - have missed you! 4 pounds is not bad at all for an extended leave! You must of been doing something right. Sometimes a chick just needs a break anyhow (I'm in that group....lol).

Jen - You have come so far, think of lugging that 50 pounds around - that is alot of progress! Try and pick up two 25 pound dumbells - that's pretty heavy! Maybe if you got two 25 pound bag of potatoes you could see how much 50 pounds is. Anyhow I'm glad your gonna be positive becuz you always offer alot of good information to us bad chicks! Getting in smaller pants is enuf reward for me - is there a better feeling?

Later Chicks....

She is fabulous - although Bella is only her temporary nickname until we (my mom and I) can agree on one...her registered name is MW Isabella, so Bella comes naturally, but there is already a Belle at the barn, so having a Belle and a Bella might be confusing (also the Belle horse has a screw loose, so for my mom, the name has "negative connotations" :rolleyes: ). I've suggested Ella, haven't heard back from my mom on that one. I'm also kind of digging "Minna" which means mother - and so is particularly appropriate, or "Mira" which means wonderful. :)

Thoughts? Suggestions??

Fiona

Also, the variation "Mhina" means delightful. :D

Fina

I think Mhina is nice, how fun for you!

Fi - I like EllaMinna......
Or ofcourse Star is always a good name......
Short story - When my DIL was talking about having a baby (prior to pregnancy w/ Kaycee) I told her I love the name Star and wouldn't that be a great name for a baby girl? So when they got their puppy two weeks later, what did they name her? Chevy Star, I think it was her way of getting out of naming any child of her's Star.....lol

Hm, what does Bella mean in Italian? Beautful? Good? But truthfully, I like Mhina, too . . And do you get to name the baby, too?

Britt, I thought pickles were a no-no, but with a hoagie roll in a LAWL recipe, all bets are off!

Julie

Yes, Bella is Italian for beautiful. I like Mhina too, but am trying to decide if it's maybe a little too off-beat for a "barn name"...so far Mira is winning among everybody else I've asked...

Yes, we'll get to name the baby, too, which really is a whole other can of worms! Obviously we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl, so we have to have two names picked out, along with a couple backups in case our first-choice name is already taken by another horse. Sheesh! (Actually I can't wait...ha ha!)

Fiona

Today I got a box of the Peanut Butter LA Lites and they are perfectly PUTRID! They taste and smell like chemicals. I think I'll sell them on eBay and go back and get some more caramel. LOL


What's your favorite flavor of LA Lites? After I finish my 5 week supply that I paid forin bulk I think I'm gonna do the Luna bars. What about Zone bars? Are those a good substitute?

I don't know anything about the Zone bars...I think the LA bars have about 180 calories and 8 grams of protien, so those are some numbers that you can compare to...

I tried the peanut butter ones and although I thought they tasted okay, the texture turned me off. I like the Honey Nougat (zap it in the microwave for about 10 seconds, it's like a warm oatmeal cookie with frosting!), the Double Chocolate and the Chocolate Crunch. I haven't tried any of the Luna ones yet...I've used up my last bulk purchase of LA bars so I'm trying to decide whether to give the Lunas a go or just stick with the LA bars....

Fiona

Fashn - I also reallly, really like the cookie dough ones. I find the double chocs sort of dry - and the way you discuss the peanut butter ones. The caramel ones are really good, and I like the honey nougat ones for breakfast. There is also a mint one (but I don't really like mint, so haven't gotten a box). Maybe you got a bad box? Try bringing it back and exchanging it.

Hello everyone, it took me a while to read everything but I finally got throught it all. I went to weight in today. And I was down 4 ounces. I know that is not much, but I thought it was okay, considering I did go a little off plan.

That recipe on the Philly Cheesesteak sounds great.

Mandy: what does the taco salad count as

Marci: I have been taking the EFA's I can't tell anything physically or anything like that but I do not from what I have heard that they are supposed to help with things like memory, hair,skin, etc. I believe some other people posted on this. I wouldn't run out to the center and buy it, my came with a basket that they gave me when I joined. I am sure you could probably find something similar to it at Wal-mart or something. Or maybe if you want the ones from LAWL you can buy them off ebay. They are probably cheaper.

Just got back from class thought i would drop by for a few. Can i just say THANK GOODNESS the SEMESTER is almost OVER!!!!!! I was eating my choc. crunch bar in class when one of the girls at my table says....what flavor is that? I know its a LAWL bar but what flavor? She said she had been on LA before and lost 30 lbs but she has gained some of it back. I was like awww i didnt know you had been on the program. Just thought it was funny. Small world!

Star thanks for the welcome back i missed yall too! And i didnt think that 4 lbs was all the bad either. I really thought it would be more than that because i have had a lot of fast food in the past few months. So ill take the 4 lbs and get busy working on it.

Fiona I take it that you are talking about a name for a horse. Mira sounds like a nice name. You will have to tell us when you decide.

Julie LOL on the pickles i just called the center to double check because they are pictured next to the philly cheesesteak and she really didnt answer my question. She said well if they arent on the plan then i wouldnt eat them. I started to say well shouldnt you know if they are on the plan? LOL i have decided not to have pickles! I will just put cucumber in my salad lol.

Fashn my fav la lite is the caramel and there are few others i have every now and then. I just had a choc crunch this afternoon and it was alright. Caramel is their number one flavor these days and I think it has to do with a texture because it taste more like a real candy bar. So our body thinks we are having something "bad" so therefore we like it lol. I dont know anything about the Zone bars i have seen them but havent had one.

Well I have to get ready to leave work. So everyone have a good night and ill see ya tomorrow. Unless i get online tonight lol might need a break from the two papers i have due this week haha.

Britt

I'm off to school! Hope everyone has a fantastic evening. :)

:wave: Hi Everyone. Better late than never I always say. I just finished up a VERY hectic day at work, and missed my 7:00 pm bus out of here. The next one doesn't leave until 7:40. Which is probably just as well... we had our season opener here today (and lost). I'll let all the people who came down here for the game clear out of downtown.

It was an okay day for baseball, the sun was shining and it was in the 50s all day. From my desk I can look over my shoulder and see the crowd in the stadium, but can't see any of the game (bummer!)... Not that I am a true baseball fan. More like a true blue Cleveland fan...fair weathered! We love them when they win and curse them when they lose. That goes for all the sports. Its just "our way" :devil:

Anyway, I have been pretty much OP all weekend. I strayed a little bit and overdid it on the carbs (2 beers yesterday as DH grilled and my parents came to visit). I think I probably worked it off though, as my Donna Richardson tape didn't want to work correctly and I found myself working out with Gilad for 2 days instead (brutal)!

Add to that the fact that I had one sick DS (strep throat) to care for and another DS on punishment (very bored) to police and play bad guy to, I have had a busy couple of days around the house. My sick little DS woke up this morning screaming at the top of his lungs MOOOMMMMY! I FEEL WONNNNDERFUL! ITS GONE!!!!! :lol: I was so glad to hear those words it felt like I had won the lottery. I felt so sorry for him as he was in so much pain I wished I could just be sick for him so he would not have to bear it. But, that's how it always is when they are sick. I'm just glad he's getting better.

I tried to log on last night, but my desktop would not cooperate, and I was too lazy to hook up the portable. I think I need my computer checked out. I can't play cards or anything on it anymore. Hmm... :?:

Anyway you guys, I hope everyone has a good evening, and I will see you all tomorrow. Happy Spring!!!

Hello Everyone hope you all had a great OP day! I'm sure most of you are off for the day, but I thought I'd post anyway.

Haylo- you know what? I forgot to write down what it counted as, but here is my guess.
1 protein, 1/2 diary (now that a dairy is two oz) And 3 veggies (for me. I use 1 tomato and 2 cups of lettuce).

So after being with LAWL for a tad over a year. I'm finally realizing how important it is to get all of your water in and I'm actually getting it all in. It's like I can't get enough of this stuff! :) It really does help with the weight loss. Just thought I'd share that with all of you. (even though you already knew it) It's helping me stay full, it's helping me when I use a CC meal and most importantly I'm not drinking as much soda.

Marisa- My favorite bars where the Chocolate mint. Yum. I'm now eating the luna bars and I love the smore's flavor. I actually haven't tried any others yet. I probably will once I get bored of these.

About the pickles. I just now realized that they aren't in the restaurant guide. Oops. For some reason I thought they were listed on the subway section. anyway I have a couple of slices of pickles on my sub sandwiches. If they were on the lawl website you would think they would be ok to eat though. Interesting.

Julie- I think you are so great. You are always helping everyone out and answering everybody's questions. I guess that is what we are all trying to do here though. :)

Anywho, I hope everyone has a good night. I'm going to try to check this early, so I can keep up with the posts tomorrow. :)

Mandy

Hey chickies -

Boy have I been off-plan today...I don't really have to deal with TOM because of my birth control, but today I just felt like eating everything in sight! Tomorrow is a new day, though, and I plan to make the most of it (OP, of course!).

Well, my mom and I agreed on Mira, and the baby will be called Echo. Don't know yet what it's registered name will be, but we've got more than two months to figure it out. :) I dragged DH and DD out to the barn this evening to say hi and give her a nice grooming...I had forgotten how relaxing hanging out at the barn with my horse can be. :cloud9:

Time to tuck DD into bed, then I have some horse junk to clean (as mine's all been sitting unused for six months!). Have a good night all!

Fiona

Happy Monday!

Wow! Busy group of winning "losers" :cb: ! I really appreciated seeing the recipes and reading about people exercising. Makes me all that more determined to get into a routine again!

Fiona - Great news about your new mare and foal! I grew up totally in love with anything "horse" and worked in the local stable so I could ride. What breed is Mira? And I love the name Echo for a foal!

Had my WI today. Not as good as I hoped, but my marker is going the right way - down. :) I have to say I think I met "the" counselor I really don't want to have again. She did the bare minimum as far as interacting and couldn't answer my questions.

One question I asked was why are the Carb Cravers considered a protein only, when in actuality you could create something very similar with your portions? Her answer was, "I don't know, the dieticians figure that out." End of discussion. Then she told me that you have to be taking the Carb Ender supplement to be using the Carb Craver portion of the menu. No big deal, but I wish they told me a week ago (yes, I had those darn pancakes!).

I also asked about other recipes from other weight loss plans and had brought along some South Beach ones from online. Her input was to do what I would have done, and tried to figure out portions.

Despite all that, I am even more determined now to make a bigger dent in my weight tracker by the end of the week!

Oh! One thing I do for my water is fill a 24 oz. bottle with cold water. It is much easier to tackle three of those than to think in terms of 8 glasses.

And I want to say....as I sat there wishing I could have any of the other counselors....I kept thinking, "What would some of the people I have met online say?" So thank you!


:balloons: Cathy


http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/img/bar039/cartoonstar01/lb/210/170/203.6/ (http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/index.php)

Good morning ladies,

Cathy-You don't have to do Carb Enders with Carb Cravers, I think most of the info I've read on those kind of supplements has been inconclusive, and no one is sure if they are even effective. Others on the board have tried them, but usually buy a much cheaper version at Wal-Mart or Sam's. I made it pretty clear to my center up front that I don't like the idea of supplements and if I can't lose weight by eating regular food, then maybe i'm just supposed to be a big girl...after that they left me alone :-)

Marisa- My favorite lites are cookie dough and chocolate mint. The mint ones remind me of a soft thin mint girl scout cookie and I usually have that as my after dinner treat. it's kind of my signal that I'm done eating for the day. though lately I've been having a piece of fruit after that.

My scale is still stuck at 179.6 and has been there about a week. I haven't exercised in 3 days due to other obligations, so maybe when I get back in gear it will go down again...frustrating. Really wanted to be at 170 when my mom comes to visit on May 19...that's still 5 weeks away and if i averaged 2 lbs a week I could get there, but i haven't been average 2 lbs a week for a long time now :-)

Okay positive thoughts...I'm going to stay POP today!

Take care,
Jen

Good morning, chickies!

Haylo - WTG on being down after the festival!

Britt - had to laugh, I haven't had a pickle since I started on LAWL. . . I love relish on a hot dog (and haven't had one of those since October, either!). Since that recipe makes 4 servings, and there were only TWO pickle spears in the pictures, I bet the pickles were for the people NOT on LAWL. Now how was that date with the treadmill?

Marissa! Hope you had a good night in class.

Carmen - it sounds like the technology stars in the heaven are not cooperating with you! First the Donna Richardson tape (is it any good, and what is it?) and then the desktop computer. Can you do anything on it? Otherwise, it's time to call the geek patrol! I am so glad that your DS is feeling better. And hope that the other DS is doing well, and is off punishment.

Mandy :o We are all here to help each other! And to have a little FUN, too!

Fiona, I love Mira and Echo. (BTW, have you ever read any of the J. D. Robb books - there is a woman doctor featured in each one named Mira - the epitome of graciousness). I also had a bad weekend, but was POP yesterday. I am trying to decide if I go to the center today or tomorrow for my first time since the prednisone.

Cathy, WTG on being down! I really haven't figured out the logic behind the CC plan. It seems to me that a CC meal probably equals a protein serving in calories. You really don't have to have a carb enders with one of those meals. For example, they don't suggest them with one of the carb based frozen dinners, like the beans and rice, or the lasagne. One of the counselors told me something like the carb enders changed the carbs to protein in your system - which didn't make sense to me at all. From the reading I've done, the main ingredient in those pills (white kidney bean extract, or something like that) binds with the starch in your system, causing you to eliminate it. :o Now, I don't see how that can change the carbs to protein :?: Maybe one of the nursing chicks (MrsSmiley?) can explain this better?

Jen, don't lose heart, you've been maintaining! Sometime our body just has to adjust to a new weight and then will start losing it again.

I made my clothes shopping date with a friend for the week of May 15th. That gives me four to five weeks of being POP and exercise - and hopefully, I'll be able to say good-bye to the 190's forever by then.

Hope all have a great day! And skinny vibes to all.

Julie

Good morning chickies!

One of the counselors told me something like the carb enders changed the carbs to protein in your system...

:lol3:

That has got to be the most ridiculous, uneducated thing I have ever heard come out of one of these counselor's mouths.

Not much to report this morning...scale was the same even after my goodie binge yesterday. Go figure.

Have a good one everybody!

Fiona

Morning all!

One of my counselors told me that one of the supplements changes the way sugar tastes to you so you no longer want/like sugar......anyone else hear that one? She then said "But the LA Lites will taste the same because they have something in them that isn't affected by the supplement." ? uh....HA! ok? :?:

Took my chocolate lab for a walk this morning and I'm feeling groovy! After my terrible weigh in yesterday, I'm determined to show that scales what's up tomorrow. It better go down, dangit! ;)

About the CarbEnders, I was told that the white kidney bean extract helps you get rid of the carbohydrates in the meal, and the calories equal around what a protein would be. I don't know either for sure. I do use a non LAWL carb blocker when I do CarbCravers meals. I have been tracking my calories, fat, carbs, and protein lately. I haven't noticed any difference in my protein or carbohydrate intake when I do CarbCraver meals. Usually the only CarbCraver meals that I eat are the Roast Beef Deli Sandwich, Burger & Fries, Pasta w/Light Sauce, and Pizza. I have eaten a few of the others but not very often. I think I had the Baked Potato once, Pancakes once, Shrimp w/Rice three times or so, and the Quesadilla once.

Oh my gosh "One of the counselors told me something like the carb enders changed the carbs to protein in your system"...:nose: :rofl: That counslor should have been fired on the spot.....

But only to be topped by: "supplements changes the way sugar tastes to you so you no longer want/like sugar"...... :rollpin: :rofl: So they actually alter your taste buds????? :lol:

When something like that comes out of their mouths, did you just sit and then your mouth dropped open or were you nice and act like you believe them :?: I think I would have just had to drop to the floor and start :rofl: But then maybe that little voice in my head would say "Trina, be nice"

Marisa,

Sounds like that counselor will say anything to get a sale. These counselors will tell you about anything to get you to buy their products so they get their commission.

If they don't know what they are talking about (obviously she doesn't), they shouldn't say anything at all about the supplements or the plan. It is possible that their is something in the pills that curbs your cravings for carbs, but I have never heard of changing the way sugar tastes :?:

Sounds like LAWL needs to train their counselors a little bit better. Some of this garbage they are telling doesn't even make sense. They are either ignorant to the fact or think that just because we need help losing weight that we are extremely gullable.

Well, obviously, I didn't buy them! I gave her the tilted head and hairy eyeball look. . .
I do think I've read something in the literature about not like sweets so much. But really, if you stay POP, how many sweets do you have? Besides the lites? One point someone did make, which sort of made sense, is that one of the supps has St. John's wart in it, which does seem to have some phsyiological effect in nervousness, etc. . so if you eat sweets when you're nervous, there may be something in that. But you can buy this as a supplement if you think it'll help. AND, I think there may be something in a placebo sort of effect - you take the pill, thinking it will help, and it just makes you more aware of what you're eating, I mean you try harder.

Sometimes I think that the counselors really do not understand serial dieters. I mean, really - I think I've read more about (and been on) different weight loss plans in the past thirty years - so I take almost everything they say with a grain of salt.

Karen/Metalchick - when you tried the pancakes, how did you make it?

Jen, I like your attitude - if I can't lose weight with eating right and exercise, what is the point? Do I want to get 'hooked' on a supplement? That I can only buy at LAWL?

Julie

Okay, I have to jump in here on the sweet taste thing...I don't know if any of the LA supplements do this, but I HAVE taken a medication in the past that altered the way food tasted - I stopped drinking Mt. Dew (and all other pop, really) while I was on it because the taste was just so unpalatable to me. It was the strangest thing, but it IS possible! It doesn't make you crave those sweet foods any less, but you'll certainly give up eating them anyway. :shrug:

Fiona

Fi- this may be similar to what ever they give alcoholics to get them to stop drinking - just asking but was this medication for weight loss, or for something else?

Okay - I don't like to bring this up but the only thing I can taste is sugar and salt. I have no sense of smell. So when someone tells me that something is gonna take my taste of sugar away, well it's just never happened - not even with medication.
Julie - I didn't mean to sound like you would be crazy to listen to the counslors, but I too would of had the "duh" look on my face.....

What they give acoholics to help them substain from drinking makes them violently sick if they drink.....

It's funny that you all are talking about the supplements, because I was just saying to one of my friends that it would be cool to take the supplements to a lab and have them tested to see if they are doing what LAWL actually says they are doing. Maybe I'm watching to much CSI. Just a bit skeptical. Also, you'd think that since there are so many LAWL centers in the country that they would hire actual nutritionist rather than these 20 something girls that don't know what they are talking about. I mean...we're paying enough money for a professional to actually give us advice...right???

Julie,

I searched the pancake mix section until I found my best choice as far as calories, fat, carbs, and sodium. I made the mix with water and used Pam cooking spray. I found a sugar-free syrup too.

But pancakes do not hold me very long, so I try to avoid eating them. I get real hungry shortly after, and I don't think it's worth wasting a protien on.....

Marci - Remember LA does have that ONE nutritionist, the one the counslors always have to call.....lol
I love CSI...........

About the counselors, I looked at careers on the LAWL Web site yesterday out of curiosity, and you should look at the job descriptions and desired qualifications. Their title is Sales Counselor. Even the manager doesn't need any experience in nutrition, dieting, or anything but SALES....

Check it out!

Star, that one nutritionist (I only think they have one for the entire country) must be extremely busy. I've been waiting for three weeks for a call back from the nutritionist.... :?:

Marci, they do have access to a real live nutritionist - and they will call them if you have a question that they cannot answer - and for help to tweak the program if you need it. And some of the counselors are med techs, which I think means they have a little more medical training.

Karen, thanks for the info on the pancakes. I've never been that much of a breakfast eater, and haven't had pancakes for a long time. Do think about it occaisionally - just thought it was weird in the CC stuff that they give you all these exact porportions for a meal, and then nothing for the pancakes!

Karen, I went through the same thing - when I got the new program, I asked what does spaghetti squash count as - starch(like winter), or summer (like zuchinni) and never heard back. Also, why is ricotta cheese listed by weight (in oz), but cottage cheese by cup? Never heard back.

I think you should bug them again.

I think someone on here should apply for the nutritionist's assistant position - obviously a position that needs to be filled. The cool thing is you could do it from home (or work)......

Julie - it was a migraine medication - Topamax. And actually it was first used as an epilepsy medication, then it was approved for treating migraine sufferers. The taste thing was just a wierd side effect (and then there were some wierder ones, which is why I stopped taking it).

They did some studies back in 2002 or so to see if it might be a viable weight-loss aid, and in terms of weight loss, it works like nobody's business (it tends to be an appetite suppressant along with the funny taste issue...I lost 12 pounds in the 6 weeks I was on it without making any huge conscious effort to change my eating habits...). But the side effects are freaky (visual distortion, memory loss, trouble with mixing up words) and were occurring in too many of their test subjects so they had to drop the trials. Oh well.

Fiona

Hi Everyone. :wave:

I think its interesting that the only experience required to be a LAWL "counselor" is sales experience. And I have thought many times that there was only a single "nutritionist" servicing the the whole country. This is the way I picture it all: The single LAWL nutritionist is sitting at home in his/her pajamas taking calls from the "counselors." They tell the counselor that they will get back to them with the solution to whatever problem arises. Then the "nutritionist" logs on to WEB MD and looks for information, and then writes on a sticky note that he or she must call the counselor back at the center within the next 2 weeks, unless something comes up, in which case they do not have to call the center back at all. That sounds about right, right? :lol:

Julie - thanks for your concern about my DS. That was very kind of you. About my computer, I can still do all my regular applications (word, quicken, excel, etc.) I think something is wrong with JAVA. I have trouble when I try to do fun things online (such as play games on POGO or post here). My cousin is a certified geek...I think I need to call him up and have him check it out.

To everyone else - Have a great day!

Whoops I posted on the wrong thread - here goes again:

Julie - you also asked about the Donna Richardson tape. Its actually a 3 day rotation which is broken out into 20 minute segments, but I try to do the whole tape when I do it. There is a taebo-type workout segment, an old school dance party segment and a body sculpting segment. I really like it because the music is very motivating.

Carmen - we have the same vision about the mysterious LAWL 'nutritionist'.....lol

Star - just read about you not having a sense of smell. Neither do I! I lost mine after a surgery to stop a severe nosebleed I was having when I was PG with youngest son. People find it hard to believe that I can smell next to nothing, and that my tastebuds rarely work. I don't taste salt (or blandness for that matter) so salt isn't a big deal for me. I CAN taste sweets though, and find that a lot of things that others enjoy are too sweet for me. Weird...but the lack of a sense of smell does come in handy when it comes down to DH's work boots! :rofl:

Carmen - That's great.....lol Well maybe not great, but glad to know I'm not alone.....
I was actually tested for smell and taste, that's how I know for sure I can only taste sugar and salt....BTW-that is both in chocolate.....hum?
They said I had convulsions or hit my head when I was small becuz I never remember smelling anything and I replaced taste with textures when I was small.
About no smelling being a blessing - I always got diaper duty and doggy duty...and almost killed myself twice (fire&gas).
Sometimes people think I should be skinny....but it doesn't work like that for me....

RIGHT! There was a kitchen fire in my old apt, and I was sleeping. I woke up because the smoke detector was going off downstairs and the WHOLE APARTMENT was full of smoke and there was a pan burning on the stove. I had NO IDEA.

People think I would have lost weight as well, but you're right the texture of fatty and unhealthy foods can be just as intense as their taste and smell.

Hi ladies: I'm so busy at work today, thought I'd just drop a short note. About the LAWL nutritionist, when I started LA - I went right to the website and send an email to the "nutritionist" and they responded within a day or two. It's when I was using the Morton Lite Salt and my hands and feet were swelling. So, if you want some answers, an email might be a option or worth a try. So many things these days we have to do ourselves because others just don't take the time or effort to do their jobs. Or, this old bitty is just sick of the 'it's not my job' or the 'idunnknow' respond.

Okay, can you tell that I have things on my mind. My 88 year old aunt is at the VA hospital with 2 broken hips (but in recovery). One hip she broke when she was at home, the other in the hospital (still a mystery). Now they want her to go the a nursing home as she can't walk very well on her own (and has over stayed her welcome). My other elderly aunt (who lived with each other) can't take care of her 24/7. It's tough getting old. I'm helping the best I can. I have to assist in applying for Medicaid, and both are clueless about each others affairs. Some people hoard their paperwork, others just lose track of very important paperwork. Wish me luck because I'm feeling like a fish out of water here, and don't know all the politics of working with the 'system', hoping I do the right thing.

Can't read all the posts now, but thinking of you ladies. I'm going to WI on my way home, I'll see what they have to tell me tonight. Take care, Sy

Hm - smell - I find my smelling is much more intense at TOM - I smell everything, which makes up for the rest of the month. And about tasting, I don't think I taste anything that I make for myself - not sure if that's true, but feels like it.

Actually, if you don't smell, other senses may be more intense? Like for blind people?

Atho - quite funny about the boots and the diaper duty!

Carmen, thanks about the tape info -I'll see if I can find one and try it out.

Sy - You will be in my heart - God put you in that family for a real reason!
Hugs.......

Sy - I was wondering what happened to you today. Also, check with your county or state senior services section - this kind of stuff is so complicated nowadays that local governments know that regular people need help.

Good luck and I'm pulling for you!

Julie

Sy - I am sorry for the issues your aunts are having. I feel your pain, in a way. When I was a teenager my DParents moved my dad's mother and father up here from South Carolina. Both of them had had strokes and neither of them could walk. He had to assume guardianship of both of them, and had to learn overnight how to handle all of their affairs. They both lived with us for about 5 years before he could no longer care for them at home and he had to find nursing homes for them. I know he dealt with probate court constantly during the time they were here, and it was very frustrating. I will be praying for you all. GOOD LUCK AT WI.

CARM

Julie - I don't know how old the tape is. They no longer sell it on her website, but I bought a copy from ebay for next to nothing (maybe $4).

About the other senses, mine are all dull. I'm blind as a bat, can't hear either. Star may be able to elaborate on that one though, since she's been without smell and taste for nearly all her life, and mine have only been gone 7 years.

Hey ladies,
I was reading what you were saying about the supplement that alters your taste of sweets. I have a bottle of it here. (Tri-max plus) It also happens to be the one with St. Johns Wart in it. Anywho, there was a lady I met online through ebay that took a supplement like this that altered the taste of sweets also. I think it can only do that if you take it regularly and within 1/2 to an hour before you meal. Anyway, I thought I would list the ingredients for you guys.

Chromium
Garcinia cambogia Extract (fruit)
St. John's Wort Extract (flowering top)
Ginko Biloba Extract (leaf)
Proprietary Herbal Blend: Guarana (seed),Kola Nut (roasted seed),Korean Ginseng (root),Wood Betony (entire plant), Beet Powder (root), Cayenne (fruit),American Centaury (entire plant),Gotu Kola (entire plant), Ho Shou Wu (entire plant)

I bought my supplements in bulk, so I took these for a huge portion of my weight loss time. I don't really crave sweets or eat a lot of them, so I don't know if it worked for that. I think it does help suppress (sp?) my appetite, but to tell you the truth I don't even know if that is what is intended for. :) Anyway, I just thought I'd list the ingredients incase someone knew something about some of them.

About CC. My center told me the Carb enders are not required. In the Menu plan kit it just says to drink more water after these meals. Before this free to live plan came out my center led me to believe that I did have to take the Carb enders. GRRR! I wasted a lot of money that way. Although I'm sure it does help. Also I had a few counselors tell me the same thing. That it makes your body process the carbs like they are a protein. I don't know if that's true or not, but I was desparate and wanted to lose weight, so I believed them. I'm a bit more skeptical now. I'm glad that so many of you didn't fall into the same trap as me and spend all of that money of these things. I spent a few thousand dollars on supplements and la lites. It's my biggest regret. But I just thought it was necessary. Anyway we were broke and didn't have great credit, so my Mom co-singed for a credit card through lawl, so it's all on credit with crazy hight interest. I'll be paying this off loooong after I reach my goal.

Sorry this got so long. Sometimes I get so sick about how much money I spent, so it helps to tell others about it. Hopefully I can help others not do the same thing. I know that we need vitamins and such, but we don't have to buy them through LAWL and spend a fortune. ..... Ok I'll talk to you all later.

Mandy

Hello Everyone, This Thread is kind of funny! As far as the nutritionist is concerned. I have envisioned them to be the same way. At home watching TV and just answering questions. I too was told that the Carb enders would make the flavor or carbs taste weird. She told me that if you take on before you go out with your friends and you want to have pasta you can have it but then when you get it will change the way it tastes, so much that you won't even want to eat it. She also told me that the La Lites we help keep you arms from getting flabby. I specifically remember her saying "it's important to eat the La Lites because you know what happens to your arms when you losse weight, they get flabby. I almost wanted to tell her that I have a degree in Chemistry (which would have been a lie,but I have taken organic chemistry one and two because I was going Pre-med for a while) Anyways, I wanted to tell her that I know since I have a degree in chemistry that the chemical make up of their products could not possibly do that, but I kep to myself. I also wanted to tell her that I think flabbiness is better treated with exercise, and not by eating. I think if they ever try to tell me something like that again I will go off and start referencing chemical formulas. That would be kind of funny. Yesterday I had a nice counselor though, I hope I continue to get her. She was not pushy at all. I too have had them call the nutritionist, and once they called back when I was actually there.
Well I hope everyone has a good day and stays on plan.

Sy: I hope things get better for you.

sorry about the typos. I need to proof read before I post.:)

Woops: as far as the carb cravers, I also was told the same as Mandy, when I refused to buy them. They said to make sure you get in extra water.

LoL! :lol: That is a new one to me! La lites making your arms less flabby. That is so funny!

Mandy

Hello all!
My name is Amy. I am 26 years old and just joined LAWL last Friday. Sunday and Monday were my TakeOff days and today is my actual first day on the Purple plan. I weighted 225 at my first weigh in and hopefully when I go tomorrow that will be down. I have a friend getting married on a cruise in January and I want to be down to 170 by then and then hopefully go even farther. I have been trying to find some inspirational chat rooms on LAWL for the past couple of days and all I find are these negatives sites from compainers about the program. I really need some positive people in my life right now that will help me sail through this program and be able to talk to when it gets hard. I would love to be apart of your group! So keep chatting!

One question - I LOVE the weight loss scales many of you have on your posts. How do you do that?

Amy

HI Amy, and welcome! You have definitely come to the right place. Not that we don't occasionally gripe about the plan - as you've noticed if you've read any of this thread! - but we do believe that the plan works if you work it, and we support each others' efforts.

To get the weight tracker, you can either look under the "3FC Features" menu at the top of the page, and use the 3FC one, or if you want a few more options you can go to www.tickerfactory.com and create one there. To add it to your signature, copy the "code" that makes up your ticker and then go to the "Edit Signature" option under Quick Links (above) and paste the code in the signature box. Hope that makes sense!

Welcome again!

Fiona

News Flash from Center of Doom :devil: "La Lites will help keep your arms from getting flabby." :rofl: :rofl: :dunno: :rofl:

Another thought on the 'pj wearing/tv watching LA nutritionist' She's the one that make up these funny little remarks that are so off the wall..... :dizzy:

Okay, that does it I'm stopping all that exercise :strong: crap and just eating extra LA Lites :lol: :lol: :lol:
This thread is so much fun today :dunno:
Reminds me of that song "Do you Believe in Magic"

Amy - Welcome to the coupe........ ;)

Afternoon!!!
I came in from school and started catching up on post from last night and today man you chicks have been busy lol. I had lunch while i was reading also. So now that I am up to date lol i can finally post.

Julie ummm well the date with the treadmill didnt work out as i had planned. I guess you could say that I stood up the treadmill! I had issues with my computer last night while i was trying to finish my paper and was up till almost Midnight so i needless to say that at that point i was not going to workout lol. But I will try to get on it tomorrow. I have to finish a 6 page paper tonight lol. This week will never be over ugh lol

Marisa first off i love your name! Your Choc Lab sounds so cute. I myself need to start taking my sheltie for walks more often. Then we will both get exercise however my sheltie is going through a phase where he like to instead of walking beside you to do circles in front of you lol.

Sy i hope that everything works out for your aunts and that you are able to get everything done that you need to. Will be thinking about you. Good Luck.

After i finish this up im going to do the dishes really quick here at the office and then im going to update my diary so i dont get behind lol. Then i guess i will get back to work haha. OHHHHHHHHHH i almost forgot...Dinner last night... I made the Philly Cheesesteaks from LAWL and they were super easy to make and were wonderful!!! Everyone loved them so thats a keeper for my family lol. I couldnt believe how well they turned out. I didnt have a pickle either haha but i did have a salad with it. Everyone if you like philly cheesesteaks you should try them really good.

Ill check back in later.
Britt

Hello Big LA losers!!!!

I have been laughing :rofl: for about 3 pages now. I think ya'll have that lonely nutritionist pegged in her pajamas in front of the tv. Probably fusses if anyone calls her during her favorite soap. . . .wonder if it's Days of Our Lives or Guiding Light? :lol:

I was supposed to go WI today but a friend and I go together (about an hour away) and she had to work today due to a coworker's grandmother's funeral and so I will go later in the week since I already have a meeting there. I did call and ask them about Mrs Dash marinade and can you believe it? They had never heard of it. They told me to just buy a bottle and bring it in and they would be able to tell me whether we can use it or not. It IS a money thing with them isn't it??? Just buy it, whether you can use it or not. :dz: :rollpin: I told her instead, I had printed the information out off the website and would bring that in so she could examine it. She just said, OH!.

Here's the ad on LA weight loss site:
L A Weight Loss Centers became the fastest growing weight loss organization in the country by helping millions of people reach their weight loss goals. Our success has created immediate career opportunities. Right now, we are looking for candidates who are:

Energetic
Enthusiastic
Sales Oriented
Self Motivated
Creative
Friendly
Team Players
Customer Service Oriented

Even a 8 yr old kid can sell lemonade, be engergetic, enthusiastic, friendly, a team player, etc... wonder if they could qualify???? I have one right here in my own home!!! :lol:

JULIE~ Are you saying that we are serial losers???? :eek: :fr: :faint: :sumo: I had no idea I was a serial anything?? :doh: I don't know whether to happy I know what I am now or concerned. . . . .

Welcome AMY!!!!!

Hope you find the support and positiveness you need here. Today we just happen to be off on the money, and untrained counselors. It's a great site with some great folks. I hope you pull up and chair and make yourself at home. ;)

Just a quick question what do you all think about making a Receipe/Review Section on the board? I know not everyone has the cookbook and it could be both fun and helpful. So what do you think?

Britt

Amy-Welcome! I am also 26. I started out at 235. Your goal of 170 by January is totally attainable! I'm glad that you have joined us. Like Fiona said we do complain sometimes about some counselors and such, but we know that the plan works. I am so happy that I joined lawl a year ago. It has totally changed my life. I've lost 76 pounds and couldn't be happier. (well, I could be, but I am Very happy:)) I just recently found this forum also and these ladies are wonderful!! I have 10 pounds to go and I know that with the support and encouragment of these chicks I will reach my goal.


Mandy

Britt - I think we started one....yup, here: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55279

It's gotten bumped down several places. Maybe we could get our wonderful Mod to make it a sticky???? :crossed: Aphil, I know you're out there! :lol:

Fiona

great idea Britt!

Thanks Fiona! I glanced through them really quick must have missed it. Yeah that would be great if it could be made a sticky i totally agree. Im gonna go check it out.

Britt

Amy welcome to the board. I started not to long ago either actually this is my second week. I started last Monday. I really like the plan and I haven't felt like I am starving myself or anything. You will definatly get the support you need from everyone one this board. I learned that very quickly, it's funny this board actually becomes addicting.

Amy: by the way I am also close to your age I am 27

Haylo-You are so right about this board becoming addicting. I actually forgot to eat my snack earlier because I was reading and posting messages. I keep forgetting who is close to my age. I need to make a list. :)

Well Mandy you can add me to your list lol i am 27 as of last month! And you are both right this board is GREAT!!!! Very addicting as well lol. I just happened to take a little vacation from it because of school I guess i shouldnt have called it a vacation either lol.

Britt

Hey Chicks -
Just went to WalMart, had to stock up on Luna Bars. I heard that they actually contain inner thigh fat eating enzymes that work 24/7 :rofl: Also the chocolate topping is really an age reversing drug from Sweden, that works best when used with cocktails :cheers:

Hey Star, how's your tail-lift holding up? :lol: Did you get that before or after the Body Snatchers stole your butt? :rofl:

Gosh, we are being silly today!

Fiona

Star you crack me up. I just got finished reading your post in the exercise yard also. You've given me two really good chuckles today. :)

Mandy

ok I need to sign off now. I could sit here a read posts all day! I'm sure I'll be back in a few hours though. :)

I love being silly on here - it keeps me from being an old grouchy chick......
Hey question - can you carry on perfume in spray bottle on airplane now and what about hair spray or do you have to pack in luggage? Anyone know?
And I'm I suppose to be at the airport one and a half hours early?
I'm repacking my suitcase tonight (this will be repack number 3....lol)

Fiona - my tail lift is holding okay.....there is something in the LA hot chocolate that keeps it in place... Well that was til the body snatchers got at it......

Star, I'd call your airline or go online and look at FAQ's. They are all different. I flew in Dec. to CA and had perfume in my luggage, no problem. And i think how early you get there is depends on the airline and it's usually longer for International flights.

Star: I don't know if you can take perfume bottles, but I did hear that you can take Luna bars with you. I think they help with the altitude (something about the fact that you are closer to the moon (luna means moon in Spanish if anyone is wondering) :joker:, and from being hungry on the plane. :D ;)

Star I just flew this past weekend and i didnt see where anything was posted about perfume however i do think that hairspray has to be packed in your lugage because it is flameable. It really depends on the airport and how busy they are and how fast the security check point it. I got to the Indy airport coming home sunday at about 7:30am checked in then went to have breakfast with the girls in the airport and didnt head to the security check point till 8:15 my flight was going to board at 8:43 so that was kind of cutting it close. Their security takes longer than in Nashville. Don't forget that any film needs to be in your carry on and you will have to take any laptops or electronic devices such as cd players, digital cameras out of their bags when going through security. Also wear shoes that are easy to get on/off i had on tennis shoes and in Indy they made me take them off but they didnt in Nashville. And what ever you do dont forget your ID!!!!

Britt

Good golly, we are a bunch of chatty chicks today - gone for a few hours and new chicks, posts and threads popping up all over the place!

Britt -thanks for posting the cheesesteak recipe on the recipe thread!

Star - are you only doing carry on, or is also checked in? You can carry almost everything in checked in luggage. The big thing about getting to the airport early is the time it takes to go through the security checkpoint - so I'd either check the airport website or with the airline. And if you're flying on a cheapie airline, I'd definately bring a Luna bar. Since they help with inner thighs, your seat mate will appreciate the extra room!

Haylo - cannot believe the stuff about the arms. If that were true, why eat anything else?? However, in defense of the lites - we tend to think of them as a snack, but they do contain a fair amount of protein, compared to a candy bar! Hmmm, maybe it's the protein that's good for the arms???

Hi Amy, and welcome! Post often and early! 170 is a very doable goal for 8 months (as long as you stay on plan!)

Smiley- I guess I should put it a different way - don't want Amy to think we are not positive! Maybe we can be progressive dieters - we've progressed from many diets. . .

Hugs,
Julie

Haylo - Thanks for the tip on Luna/Lites you must of just came back from the center huh? Hey the bars were the first thing I packed and yes I've heard that same thing about attitude or I mean altitude :lol:
Okay, I'll break down and go online with my dumb questons about packing ;)
I'm taking bars to CA for my girlfriends, they need to get all these great benifits too..... :lol:

TextJewel: you are definatly right about the nutrients found in those bars. You are right I do think of them as a snack and ironically I do look foward to them after all they are yummy! I am sure they have some sort of nutritional benefit.

Star: No I did not just come back from the center, I am just being silly. I hope you have a good trip.

Britt: thanks for posting the recipe on the recipe board.

Britt - Thanks for all the packing advice, you pretty much answered all my questions. I will check with the airline tomorrow about arrival time (hopefully it will be soon becuz I'm tired of repacking that dang suitcase).

Julie - one small carry on, one checked. Bars in carry-on ofcourse. About the lites containing protein, maybe the counslor met that protein feeds the muscle and carbs don't? But how she got that eating Lites defeats flabby arms, is still crazy.....But it sure made our day :lol:

Have to get some work done....later....
Hum :smug: I was just wondering how Lites work on men :lol:

Haylo - I mentioned that about the lites, because when I'm having a social event -like a birthday dinner(!) the lite is the first thing to go when I try to catch up on calories - but there is nutrition value in it - it ain't just junk food!

Star- are you changing planes at any point - if so, put some undies in that carry on bag, just in case. . . and a good book. . .

About the men - have you tried them on your DH. (now I'm blushing)

Haylo - I was just being silly too I know you didn't really just come back from the Center of Doom :devil: Basically I'm not too serious right now, but once I'm back for CA - watch out I plan on being POP once again.
I love the Lites and really miss them - one reason I can't wait to go back to the Center of Doom :devil: My favorites are Double Chocolate and Chocolate Crunch.....surprise huh :?:
Julie - No my flight is non-stop..... About the male Lites - We will have to have them for dinner tonight - I'll get back to you tomorrow ;) :o

Oh, Julie - I completely ignored a comment you made a few pages back, when we were still deciding what to call my new horse...I have read a number of J.D. Robb books (maybe all of them) and I love Dr. Mira. One of the reasons that name appealed to me! :)

Fiona

Gee, Star, how romantic, sharing a lite after dinner.. .Glad that you won't have to change planes - always more complicated, that way.

Amy - WELCOME!

Star - have a great and safe trip!

All - one of the counselors said the same thing about the lites during one of our sessions. She was going through my diary noting that I generally only had one lite a day, and she told me to try to get the 2nd one in, because it would help build my muscle and keep me from looking flabby with all the loose skin as I lost weight. I figure my workouts should be good for that though!

My favorite bars are choc crunch, double chocolate, choc mint and lemon. I do not like the peanut butter at all. LA should sell variety packs though. I am getting burnout from the bars as well.

Hey - do you chicks think we could lose our Five Star Excellent Rating for being silly :?: No Way, right? Then I realize that is a very blonde question since we are the ones that awarded us the rating in the first place:lol:

Okay, I have had way too much fun for one day, I'll check you chicks tomorrow.........Here's hoping my DH likes the Lites :love:

Carmen, I'm with you on the variety packs - they also sell salad dressings -single packs, that I wish were in variety packs - I am definately getting burned out on them, even my faves - it's one of the reasons I do the luna's.

Julie

One more little thing about the bars. I think they are better than say a chocolate candy bar, but I don't think they should really advertise them as muscle building.

Oh I told DH he has to eat a Luna bar for dinner and he said if it will make me
_ _ _ _ _ I'll eat it.......lol

Bye Chicks......

Well the day is over and again I enjoyed seeing how everyone is doing!

Amy, I wanted to say hello and welcome. I am fairly new also...noted we have similar goals! As some have also said, this place is addicting!

The weather here was colder and I found myself craving "comfort" foods. Did semi-okay (better than I used to do), giving in a couple of times to a small handful of chocolate covered raisins and one snackwell shortbread cookie. Anyone have any suggestions of what to try eating on those comfort food kinds of days? One thing different was today was a crazy day at work and I didn't have much time to sit and drink my water. I have gone from being a camel to being a fish!

I laugh at the consensus of some of the messages we get at the centers. If the LA Lites will deflabbify my arms, I am taking out a home equity loan!

Tomorrow is a WI day - that in itself has been a motivator to not give in totally to the comfort-food craving!

Oh, about traveling. You will want to take off any jewlery too before you get up to the metal detectors, unload your keys out of your pockets, spare change, avoid belts with metal buckles. I work in a prison and have a metal detector clearance there and have been tempted soooo many times to tell airport security I am cleared. The I remember where I am...oops!

Have a great day tomorrow!

Ok so today I went on to e-bay and ordered the whole lawl plan for 4.95. Why? You ask. So I could sneak a peek into what I'll be doing soon. (stabilization and maintenance) I had bought this a looong time ago, but lost it when I had to reformat my computer. I also wasn't happy with that version because I noticed errors in my plan info, so I wondered what other errors were there. Anyway this one looks to be legit. I probably shouldn't have looked ahead. It will take some of the excitement away. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know what is ahead...... week six of stabilization ='s pickles as a free food! Hee hee hee. Just thought I would mention that since it came up the other day.

The stabilization phase looks like it might be kind of scary. Scary because we'll be adding more foods. That will seem weird.

Oops American Idol is on. I've gotta run. :)

Mandy

Hi, everyone -

Have some time before work today so I'm jumping on for my annual 3 week visit! I really wish I could post from work, but at least I can read all the posts, it's just hard to fit everything in when I can finally get on-line from home.

Star -congrats on new home. And here's to a safe trip.

Fiona - Congrats on your new horse(s)! And house hunting, too.

Sy - Your family is in my thoughts. I agree with the suggestion for seeking out your city/state senior advocacy group, etc.

Rusty - I think you're trying WW? Can't remember, but whichever plan it is, dont' leave this forum!

Text/Julie - I'm trying to head down your way this weekend if I can finagle a day or two off. My BIL is one of the exhibitors at the Smithsonian Folk Art Show (I think that's the name). Anyway, some of my family are already down there. On second thought, maybe I'll stay home! Not that I don't love them dearly, but living within a mile of each other does get to be wearing sometimes.

Newbies - Welcome

My apologies to anyone I've missed!

I am still stuck at 160-163 lbs. I keep yo-yoing between those two marks. Got to start measuring. If I go to DC I will bring lites with me, not sure if i'll end up using them.

Here's to winning at losing!

Melissa

You guys were too much yesterday! Let me just say this, I should have arms like Linda Hamilton in T2 after all the lites I've consumed since 2002!

Anyway, I think LA takes some nutritional/scientific findings/data and twists it for the sales pitch. Maybe Star or someone else has more info on this, but I've read that when you are on a low cal diet, your body will start to feed off muscle for fuel. So, people that just diet and don't exercise can be thin but be just as flabby as before because they've lost even more muscle fibers. You need protein to help maintain muscle tone, especially when exercising, the protein helps repair muscle when you exercise. I think weight training actually breaks down the muscle fibers and when we rest in between, that is when the muscle fibers repair themselves and grow (well not much for women), but we get more toned. So, while LAWL doesn't promote exercise, especially any kind of weight work, they are using a theory (I can't think of the word I want right now) of eating for weight training. Does that make any sense? So they are telling us we don't need to exercise, but the extra protein in the bars will help us maintain our muscle mass.

I was told that the EFA's help maintain muscle and I wouldn't get flabby. I do take EFAs because they are supposed to be good for you. I only take the FB500s if I'm going out to dinner. I don't know if they really do anything, but I don't get chastised at WI if I tell them I ate out but I did take my FB's before hand. The Tri-max I use only during PMS. For some reason, they do help with my carb cravings during that time. I just feel if I take them all the time, they'll lose their effectiveness, if they had any in the first place. I have these three from some great sale they had, plus I got extra weightloss weeks for purchasing.

The thing about the lites that bother me is the partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat) and all the sugar. So while there is a good amount of soy protein (8 grams), we're still getting ingredients that can be found in any junk food. Seriously, for 180 cals I could have a slice of 40 cal bread and a TB of RFPB or one of Aphil's suggestions.

I'm done! Please anyone jump in if I have the protein/muscle thing wrong, I'm just going by things I've read in the past.

My pet peeve with LAWL is they don't address the fiber issue. That is one thing my Doc mentioned when I showed him the program.

Melissa

Hi everyone.

Welcome Amy. Amy, when I started LAWL I looked at everything on the internet to do with LA (like you found). The negative comments that I read were all to do with money, not that the plan didn't work. It's not like LAWL ripped them off by requesting that they purchase the LA Lites, or that the person signed up had lots of weight to lose (which would mean more money), it's the fact that the person didn't have enough guts to tell them No (if they didn't want to purchase the Lites). Their diet does work (if you stick to plan) and we here are proof of that.

You ladies are so funny about the magic of the Lites. I knew I liked them for a reason. :lol: Never heard about them being a potion for flabby arms and like many have said, if it was true - I'd have purchased stock in the company, and we'd be rich!

I want to thank you all for you comments regarding my aunt(s). I'm still not sure what to do, and have lots of phone calls to make - so many questions I need answered. I'm going to check to see if there is someone locally and is an advocate for the elderly. Thanks for that suggestion.

Star: Have a wonderful time in California with the 'girls'. My advice, take the perfume and hairspray in your carry on bag. I always have. I can see the metal detectors going off, so get there with plenty of time to spare is case that happens. Since I've had my 'main' luggage went West when I was headed East, I take everything I know I will need and pack it in my carry-on. Gonna miss you being gone for a week! Hugs to you!

Oh, before I go - at WI last night, I STAYED THE SAME. Geesh. I'm not complaining, just want to get to GOAL.

I'll be back, but I really need to run now. Sy

Morning gals! Went grocery shopping with my mom last night and came home with tons of yummy ON PLAN foods. I tend to get stuck in a rut and eat the same thing every day - so this was exciting.

Newbie question - Don't you gals get tired scrolling through pages and pages to find where you left off last time you visited this thread? It'd be easier to have a daily thread - that way we wouldn't have to search and search and search through this one. LOL - like the newbie shelling out advice? HA!

Anywho, hope everyone has a great Wednesday! the weather is gorgeous down here in Texas. :)

Good morning, chickies!

Marissa- here's a tip for you -when you open up the thread, there's a button at the top of the first page, just on top of the first post, that says view first unread - if you click it, it'll take you to the place you left off at. (it took me weeks to figure that out). Also, you know that if you are in the LAWL forum, a thread that is in bold - darker than the rest - has new posts since the last time you looked, right?

BTW, how is your mom doing OP?

Melissa, how cool that your BIL does that kind of stuff - guilty secret - I've never been to one of those Smithsonian folk art shows, although I've only heard great things about them. I've been reading alot about the way the body burns various macronutrients - protein, carbs, fat - but haven't gotten it all straight in my head yet. I do agree with you about the fiber issue. And about the trans-fat issue in the lites. And I also think the diet may actually be a little light in fat. but that may be the reason they push the EFA's.

Mandy, I saw that on ebay yesterday, too - that they have the new plan as of Spring 05 - thought about getting it. It is scary to add in new foods, but they do it gradually so they can adjust it to you, right? And you know how to lose any weight you gain back - Maintainence is scary - especially when we've been focused on LOSING weight for so long, it's like, what's next?

Cathy - is chocolate a comfort food for you? For me it's something sweet and creamy - I find that if I nuke a cored apple with a bit of sf jam (apricot is the best), and then mix it with yogurt - it's one of my favorite OP treats. There are also lites that are hot chocolate -this may be a better fit for you. Otherwise, I try to distract myself -- I find that whenever I'm dieting I end up buying myself non food treats.

Sy - sorry about staying the same - I still think you should show your diary to the dietition - make her WORK in those PJ's of hers.

Well, chicks, I have a busy day out today - today is the one year anniversary of my step mom's passing, and we are taking my dad out to lunch, and then I've got a dinner meeting tonight. . . I am going to have to be verry, verry careful. ..

Hugs, and skinny vibes!

Julie

Melissa,

I would have to agree about the protien. I do not eat the LA Lites, and my protien portions are larger than if I did eat the Lites. I actually looked up how much protien I should be consuming, courtesy of Wake Forest University School of Medicine; and I am consuming approximately twice as much protien and half as much carbohydrates (even with CarbCravers) than suggested.

I have had problems with the fiber issue. I have been taking a fiber supplement every night for a long time now. Otherwise, I am miserable! I haven't told them this either.... When I did tell them about my problems, they give me some kind of tea to drink. Of course, their product that I could purchase if it worked and was told to drink more water. I already drink 12-16 8oz glasses of water now. The fish oils (EFA) and the fiber have done the trick about controling my BM issues.

I know.... too much information :sssh:

Good Morning LA losers!!!:wave:

Well, It;s another beautiful day here in the Lone Star State. sorry I'm bragging again. :0 Ya'll have been a very busy bunch the last few days. It's hard on this old chick to keep up. ;) But I think it's great that there is always someone around to help if someone has a question or a weak moment.

I think Fashnvictmhas a great suggestion to post a thread daily. I'm all for it if ya'll decide to do that. :yes:

Melissa~ I think it said it GREAT about the muscle mass and need for protein.

Here's an article from Women's life:
The importance of protein in the diet

Instead of cutting back on protein, you should actually increase your protein intake when you want to lose weight. The reason for this is that protein builds muscle, which is exactly what you want for that lean, toned look. It is important though, to stick to lean meat instead of fatty meat, making chicken and fish a better choice than red meat. The reason why more muscle will help you lose weight is that it will increase your metabolism.

Protein is especially important if you work out, because it is essential in repairing your muscles. Too little protein will cause your body to break down the protein in your muscles, which will cause you to see very little results from hours of training in the gym.

A lack of protein will also result in a lack of important nutrients, such as iron, and zinc. Vegetarian athletes who fail to supplement protein often suffer from ongoing colds and struggle to recover from workouts, because their bodies are not supplied with all the nutrients it needs to function properly.

Cutting back on fatty meat products if you plan to lose weight is perfectly fine, as long as you supplement it with a protein shake or a similar product that will supply your body with enough protein to help it cope.

Hopefully that will help explain about the protein.

I've gotta a busy day today. Will try to check back later. Hope EVERYONE has a GREAT ON PLAN day!!!!

Morning Chicks.....

Julie - Have a nice day out with family and friends and I have faith in you to make your usual good choices.....your a pro now chick!

Melissa - What you said about low fat dieting and the body taking needed energery form muscle is true. That happens when you aren't eating enuf. Protein builds muscle, that's why Atkins works so well. Working out in the a.m. is like a third more effective than later, on an empty stomach. When you lift weights you stress your muscle and it takes 48 hours to repair. Body builders actually say the muscle tears and needs that time to recover. Probably none of us here lift enuf weight to tear anything. Now if I could apply all this prefectly and it worked, would I be happy or what? Body mass really is 90% what you eat and 10% exercise. I agree with you about dieting only and still being skinny and flabby with no definition. I have done it both ways and I feel so much better when I do them hand in hand. Sermon over - sorry.
Well today is my last day = have to go and do some serious work, get ready for the temp......check ya later......

Karen - I've heard that is an extra benefit of the added fats - makes things move a little better. . .I eat enough veg that I don't have too many problems that way.

Is the wake forest thing a website? can you post the link?

Marissa - If you save this as a Subscribed Thread, then under Quick Links you can pull up your Subscribed Threads and then it says Last Page.....it's saves alot of time, you can also who posted last and what time. I have about four Subscriptions and thats all I look at....

Morning Chicks!! I have had two POP days and i WI this morning so I will update you how that goes. I started take off today so i have had my juice, 1/2 la lite and working on my first bottle of water. I am however soooooooooooo tired. I think this weekend at my BF i will have to catch up on my sleep lol. I said that I had to finish my 6 page paper last night well it still isnt done :?: I decided to not stay up till all hours of the morning and im going to finish it here at work today. Actually im going to start working on it right after i finish this post. Hopefully I will be able to stay awake haha. Well im gonna do about 45 minutes of good work on my paper and then head to WI so ill be back in a little while.

Im so glad that everyone seems to be doing so well. Its great for us to post how well we are doing its a wonderful motivation for others. I know its helped me on more than one occasion when i havent been doing as well.

Here is to a POP day for everyone and a great TO day for those doing that!!
Dont forget H2O!!!!

Britt

Good morning Chicks,
I haven't had a chance to catch up on the posts yet but I will through out the day...
I was off yesterday but the cable was out half of the day and I couldn't get on the computer. I ended up getting my house cleaned and took a nice long nap... :o
I'm back at work today and have to work the next 3 and then off for 4. I sure hope we continue to have this nice weather.. :) I want to go out on the boat and the Harley this weekend if possible..They are having the laps around Talladega again Saturday so we might just ride the bike up and watch them go around the track. .. :D
I'm still on plan and it's still going pretty well.... :cool:
I'll check back in alittle bit...
Star...Are you working? :?:

LAWL Newbie here :wave: Look forward to sticking to this, and chatting more with fellow chickies :) :flow2:

Quick g'morning as I fly out the door. It sounds as if all are off to a good positive start today!

Julie - Chocolate is my "stress" food. I have to booby trap my coworker's desk when things get hectic at work - he supplies lots of chocolate at all times! My cold weather comfort food are things like hot soups, anything with melted cheese, and yes, I suppose hot chocolate.

OK, off to work and a WI this afternoon. Here's crossing my fingers I get a counselor with personality who will talk with me! Will check back here later this evening...meanwhile Happy Wednesday to everyone!

Welcome Irish - :wave:

Cathy - Yes, another Chocoholic - here's to ya :chockiss:

Here is the link to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center/School of Medicine

Baptist Medical Center:
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/

The School of Medicine:
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/school/

The Calculators:
http://www.besthealth.com/Health+Calculators

I eat enough broccoli to choke someone, but I still have the fiber problems. The fiber supplement and the EFA does the trick for me though.

Hi again -

Cathy - there is also a lite that is a soup - cream of chicken and cream of mushroom (not sure how they do on the muscles, though)! I don't like cream based soups so I've never tried them.

Just a note for you newbies- LAWL is pretty much anti-canned foods, including soup - because of the sodium levels. But you can make your own soups. . .

Hi Irish! Glad to have you with us!

Melissa - with you on the broccoli, girl! Thanks for posting the links. I'll check them later.

Hi Britt - I'm going to WI today too - let's wish both of us luck! (also need a new diary!)

Star - duh - didn't know you could subscribe to a thread - finally found it under the thread tools at the top! You smart blonde chick!

Karen/RWF - your weekend sounds like lots of fun. Good golly, a bike AND a boat AND two new cars???

Julie

Good Morning Everyone. :wave: WELCOME IRISH!

To all the LOSERS - CONGRATULATIONS! To the maintainers - at least its not a gain, and there's always next time! And to the gainers - Life Happens, right? :shrug:

I have quite a busy day here today. WI is tonight and I am a little apprehensive as I had some spaghetti w/regular sauce and ground turkey last night. BUT I'm drinking my water like a good chick and I am going to the center unafraid. I would LOVE to hit another 10 lb mark. I still have 7 lbs to go in order to meet my April goals.

On another note: I am greatly looking forward to this Sunday, as I have strenuously campaigned for a "home alone" day, and it looks like I will get it. DH is taking the DSs to the indoor amusement park for the day. He has also promised to help us clean the house top to bottom on Saturday so that I literally DON'T HAVE TO LIFT A FINGER all day Sunday. Its amazing what pretending (?) to be insane will get you these days. He told me that I appear to be in need of some time alone (translation: I was being evil), so he and the boys are gonna disappear for the WHOLE DAY! :dance: :dance: :dance: It will be just me and the dog. I plan to do my spring pedicure and get my Capt. Caveman tootsies ready for spring while I watch home improvement shows and sip decaf. tea! It's going to be sooo great!

Well you all, have a great OP day, and to all those like myself who have WI today, BEST OF LUCK!

BTW - I bought the soups in a grab bag on Ebay b/c I too am a soup lover and I found them to be HORRID.

Does anyone know where to get some good sample menus for the purple plan?

Julie...All kinds of warm weather toys. Part of living in the south at the lake I guess... :lol: We got the bike two years ago and the boat last year (Pontoon- used) and then just got the new vehicles. Payments are just a tad higher on both so it all worked out.. :cool:

Carmen -
Going to Center of Doom :devil: unafraid - Your my idol ;) Have fun on your 'home alone' day!

Rusty - Okay now tell the chicks, that your DH is the local bank robber.... :lol:

Where's Fiona :?: Jen :?: And Bev didn't post last night :p

Star....I never thought of that... :lol:
I told DH we needed to win the lottery to be able to pay for this stuff.... :^:

Well i am back from WI had to wait this morning it was really busy. But I have good news to report after being POP for two days i lost a total of 1.75 lbs YAY!!!! Now if i could just lose another 2 lbs on TO i would be pleased with this week lol. Also a tidbit of info the Philly Cheesesteak is new I had to fax a copy of it to my counselor when i got back to the office so she could put it up on the board. I thought that was really funny that they would put up a new recipe and then not send it out to the centers LOL.

Karen- have a blast this weekend! I hope you got my email also sorry it took so long lol.

Star- have a great time on your trip and hurry back to us!

Irish- Welcome!! sorry im on the red plan but working on being down to purple next month im sure someone here can get you that info though.

chklit- i would love a sunday like that but i dont see that happening until at least MAY i will be out from school for the summer and might just have to take a weekend trip alone somewhere and do nothing but scrapbook and relax.

Julie- GL at WI!!!! Let me know how it went. Did i read somewhere that you are taking yet another trip??? Do tell. Sorry i know you probably have already said it somewhere but if you are like me you dont mind talking about your vacations lol.

Solo- good luck on your WI today as well!!!

Metalchic- im a broccoli girl too!! I think i could eat broccoli and chicken everyday if i had too. but as they say variety is the spice of life so i try to kick things up a notch every now and then lol.

Well i am about half way finished with my paper and my next glass of TO juice is calling my name so i better get going. Ill check back in later.

Britt

Marissa: When I bring up this thread (and as long as I go here first) it brings me back to my last post, so I can read on from there. Here is what I did:

Quick Links (above in purple right next to Log Out)
Edit Options
Thread Option Display (choose Linear - Newest First)

After changing this, it works great. A new thread daily would to too hard to keep track of, you know what I mean?

MetalChic: I have the same problem. I tried the fish oil stuff from LA, didn't make much different to me, or my system. I didn't buy any tea from LA (but heard about it from June how use to post here), so kind of looked around for something and found it in a healthfood store. It's Senna Leaf tea, 30 bags for $3.58, it has worked wonders but I feel like my system is probably addicted to it now. Actually, I only drink it twice a week.

Star, I'd be so excited if I were you. I'm looking forward to my vacation in May.

Julie, are you started to get some things ready for yours?

Karen: Have a great time this weekend. Wow, Tailadaga twice in 1 year. How lucky. I'll checkout the races this weekend to see if I catch a glimps of you, LOL! NASCAR's most devoted fan!

Take care everyone,

Sy

Hi Sy - I do the tea too, I'm addicted for sure.....But otherwise I would never go to the bathroom....and dieting is bad for that...My doctor told me that I could take Senokot everyday if needed, that it was better than not going and then straining. But I like the tea better.......it's my night time night-cap.....lol
I am so excited about going. I have repacked my suitcase 4 times now, the latest being at 4:30 this morning. I got everything out, tried on afew things, switched some stuff. I think I'm happy with my choices now (atleast right now). All I have to do now is pack my carry-on.......oh and I managed to get pretty tan......

Sy....This weekend we will be going to the track to watch our friends from Iowa do a couple laps around the track in their vehicle. We already did our laps last month. But anyway, he is driving all the way down here (like a 16 hour drive) to do that and then he's driving back home. He'll then turn around and come back down here on the 27th and stay until after the race on the 1st....Geez, that's just crazy... :lol: We have about 25-30 that camp together in the same spot every year for both Talladega races and then sometimes we meet at other tracks. We will be leaving after work on the 27th and won't be back until May 2nd, the day after the race. We are so ready.... :D

I posted on roll call, but i haven't posted here yet. I started on 3/21/05, so I really don't know the in's and out's yet. They started me on the purple plan, but moved me to red when i told them i am not buying the lites (too $$).
My question is, what is the criteria for moving down in plans and does anyone know the order? Thanks

Welcome Laurie

I was also moved up when I started because I don't do the lites. I was moved down to purple at 184 and was told that would be as far as I would go. I am not sure what's after purple, but I think gold. If you aren't doing the lites, you probably won't go down any further than the purple.

How tall are you?

I am 5' 4.5" tall and started at 230. I was on red when I started moved up to red plus. Shortly after I was moved back to red and at 184 moved to purple for good.

Hope I answered your question.

Ladies, I always wanted to ask if others were having a BM problem; but I never got up the nerve. I am glad to know that I am not the only one. I think a diet so low in fat causes it. I never had a problem before......

Thanks for letting me know that I am not alone :thanks:

Hello all-
Welcome Irish and Laurie. I started out on the purple plan at 235 and once I hit 193 (or was it 183? :)) I went to the gold plan. I'm 5'7". I think the green plan is the next lowest, but I think I will be ending on the gold plan.

Metal and Sy- and anyone else getting close to goal. Are you guys getting nervous about reaching your goal? I know that sounds totally weird, but I'm getting nervous. I guess I'm wondering what life will be like afterwards. I know that we will still be OP and all, but have you thought about what to focus on next? I've also thought all along that once I get to my goal, life will be perfect and I'll look perfect (as perfect as I can) and everything will be wonderful. Now I'm realizing that there are still things that I'm going to wish looked different on my body and that all of my other "problems" aren't going to just go away. Anyway, I'm actually doing well today and feeling pretty happy. I'm just thinking about how I'll be feeling in about a month or so. I'm feeling like reaching my goal might be sort of anti-climatic. Not that I won't be excited. I plan on having a little get together with my immediate family once I hit goal.... anywho that is just what I've been thinking about lately.

I think I seem to have a personality that just has to find reasons not to be completely happy. I need to work on that. :)

Alrighty, I'm actually feeling great. I'm getting all of my water in and that feels awesome! I'm eating POP (not even sure what that stands for, but I know what it means. LOL) and I just was able to zip up a pair of pants that I bought last summer that were way to small at that time. That feels great! Talk to you chickies later.

Mandy

Metal - BM's are just not something chicks like to talk about, but for me this has always been an issue. Dieting really effects the BM and your right we aren't getting much fat in this diet........Fat is really important for that and hair,skin and nails......
Senokot is really good, if anyone needs some help.....

speaking of BM's at the center they used to ask me that every time I went in... when was your last BM? I always hated that. I get why they ask, but I was like do you want to know the exact time and all of the details? :) Anyway, I just realized that they haven't been asking that lately. I wonder if it's just the people I get or if they just don't ask anymore.

Mandy

They still ask me about BM every time. Some of the counselors even ask "Is everything ok with that (BM)." Like I said before, I never got any real advice that helped me, so I did my own experimenting to see what worked for me.

About being nervous about reaching my goal.....

Yes, I am actually. I am not sure what I will be able to eat and how much. I am concerned about getting back into my old, bad eating habits. The last thing I want to do is gain it back, any of it.....

I know weight loss doesn't fix all of my problems, but it does help with my self esteem issues. Although, my mommy fat and loose skin isn't going anywhere unless I replace it with plastic surgery scars.....

I know with diet and exercise I can minimize my problem areas, but they aren't going away. I spoke to the doctor about it, and he told me that it was just something I was going to have to deal with being a mother.

I am also concerned about life after LAWL..... After you live a certain way for over a year it is kinda hard to imagine life without it, but I am sure I will manage.

I do feel better, I look better, and my health is better. I just can't let myself get in that bad eating habit rut again. I realize now what I was doing to myself, but I had no idea at the time what I was doing.

Hopefully, I will be even closer to my goal when I go in and weigh tomorrow. I can't wait to get to my goal so I can go shopping and buy myself some clothes that fit........

Wish me luck.....

Hello all and thank you for the warm welcome! :wave: I am so excited to find this group because it is nice to have others to talk to about these things.

So I had my first weigh in today. Sunday and Monday I did the Take Off and when I weighed in on Monday I only lost .5 probably because I was retaining water. Yesterday was my first day on the purple plan and then I had my first WI being on the plan today and I lost 3 lbs! :flow1: I was very happy about the loss and certainly hope it keeps up at that rate, but I know life will come in and may be a barrier.

For example, this is my last week at my current job because I just got an awesome new job and will be starting next Monday. Tonight my friends at work are having a big going away happy hour at Chili's. I have scheduled on my menu plan to have a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and Water for dinner, but to me it sounds so boring when going to a party. I would love to have appetizers and drinks like the rest especially since it is my party. HELP! I feel temptation telling me to screw it and have fun!!! But I also hear my conscience saying "Cruise in January - lose your butt!"

I am also a little frustrated today because the lady I've been going to at LAWL for my beginning visits is very much like the rest of you explained. A sales person (who personally has little sales or people skills) and if you say you don't want to follow the plan to a T she gets really confrontational. I was talking to her today about the LA Lites and told her that I would prefer to use Luna Bars instead. She said if I do that they have to bump me to the red plan and then they can't tell me how to count Luna Bars on the plan. And of course she gave me the line that if I don't use the LA Lites that they can't guarantee 2 pound weight loss a week. Now to me it seems they make you eat more food and go on the bigger plan so you won't lose the weight and they can make you want to use the lites. Am I wrong on this or is it really a scientific nutritional fact that if you don't use the Lites you need more food? Sorry this all is very confusing.

And what does she mean that if you don't do the LA Lites that your contract is null and void. She actually told me that verabtum. Does that mean no rebate in the end or just that you can't continue if you haven't lost the weight? The La Lite Bars taste OK to eat, but I really prefer the Luna bars, plus LA Lites are so expensive! I just paid $460 to do the plan and I know my husband won't go for the extra money for bars. A box of Luna's here and there in the grocery cart and he won't notice the increase, but saying a seperate amount he'll die! I mentioned this to my counselor and she of course said I could do Care Credit, but no way at 21%!

I really want to do well and lose weight on this plan, today is just a little frustrating for me. I know you all will have wonderful words of wisdom!

Amy,

Welcome and congratulations on the loss. When I go to Chili's I get the Grilled Salmon. They will alter it however you like. I usually get all steamed broccoli instead of southwestern rice and steamed veggies...only a suggestion.

As far as the increasing your plan, the reason is you need extra protien if you aren't eating the LA Lites. If you want to do Lunas instead, I would suggest letting them think you are eating the Lites and just eat the Lunas. If they increase your plan you will not need any kind of protien bar. I don't eat the Lites at all and I have larger protien portion sizes than the ladies here that do eat Lites or Lunas. Sometimes you have to remember, what they don't know doesn't hurt them. They are sales motivated and will push their products to no end!

All of the counselors aren't bad. I guess you had the pleasure of reading our griping. Most of the time they are really supportive. I don't buy anything from them, and they do not hassle me at all. I think after awhile they learn who they can convince and who they can't. There are the occasional demons at the centers, but in my expericence they don't last long.

The refund guarantee is void if you don't do the lites. If you didn't purchase a year of maintenance you aren't eligible anyways. I only purchased 6 weeks of maintenance so it really didn't make any difference to me. If for some reason you haven't lost the weight in your paid weight loss weeks, you can purchase more weeks. If you follow the plan, you shouldn't have any problems. They have also run promotions, gave out coupons, and offer combo purchases to increase your number of weeks. For instance, I paid for 40 weight loss weeks; I had an April 2004 coupon out of the calendar to receive 4 more weeks; then they run a summer coupon book special and after 10 weeks of weigh ins you got another 4 weeks free; and in December I used another coupon out of the calendar to get 4 more weeks free. So in all I received 52 weeks for the price of 40. I have actually run out of weeks, like two weeks ago, and they haven't said anything about me purchasing more. I don't plan on it either!

Thanks Karen for the advice. There are other counselors I have met there but haven't had a chance to work with yet that I think will be nice during WI. This one gal I've got just has quite an attitude and you can she $$$ in her eyes. I think I am going to stick with the purple plan and just tell them I'm eating the Lites as you suggested. Great suggestion!

Weird - I was told you didn't have a choice the number of weeks for maintenance. They said you HAD to pay for a whole year. I hate sales. The job I have done for the past year is sales and I absolutely have everything about it. Especially when I work with the Sales people here they are all so sneaky and love "screwing" people. Thank God I have this new job coming up next week. I'll be getting back into my love of travel and event planning with a large accouting firm, so that means 20% travel. With the travel I know I'll need the bars (Luna) to stay on track since I won't be able to homemake some meals.

Has anyone else had to travel a lot with their job while doing the program? Since a lot of the meals need to me made at home (especially the CC) do you have any suggestions?

Amy - I would definitely tell them you're buying the bars off of Ebay as the ladies have suggested in some of the previous threads. I wish I had done that, but unfortunately I didn't find this site until a month after I started the plan. I bought the 2 months worth of bars and 3 months worth of supplements and opened 2 months worth of the supplements so that I could have some at work and some at home. So now I can't even sell them on Ebay...which is what I would have done. I do however enjoy the bars so I plan to stick with those.

Well, I was really, really, really bad today at lunch. :devil: We had a going away party at a restaurant for a co-worker. I went in thinking I would have a salad but ended up ordering pizza....and then had dessert too. :o But oh man...it was so worth it. I need to describe it...that's how good it was. It was white chocolate, raspberry and chocolate mousse each in its own separate chocolate cup drizzled with raspberry sauce. OH MY GOD!!!!! But I was good, I only ate the chocolate one and gave one to a co-worker and then left one on the plate. So tonight I'll drink tons of water and be good for a while. I'm really trying to not be so hard on myself. I was planning on getting WI this morning but got there before it opened and couldn't wait an hour, so I left. Wish now that I WI before that awesome lunch. I guess I'll wait a few days and go on Saturday...maybe my WI won't be so bad.

Funny about the BM's. Whenever they ask me how my BM's are I feel like saying, Great...and yours??

Hi chickies!

Just wanted to check in - I am now officially at my 35 pound marker, and will change my avatar just when I finish this post!!! WooHOO!!!

So of course, I was pretty able to stay OP at lunch (Mandy -POP means Perfect On Plan) - even though my grilled chicken salad was completely covered in cheese - I scraped most of it off!

Amy, I was told the same thing about maintainence - that I had to purchase the full year. Actually, I figured that it was about the same as WW since in WW the weekly fee is higher, but maintainence is free. I did learn something new today - apparantly, they REALLY want you to go in 3x a week to get your rebate. I've been going mainly 2x a week since January. And there were all new faces in my center today - they are also doing an audit - don't know if this is normal, or if there is something up? Good luck on your new job, and you can handle it tonight. You can steal my mantra - I deserve the BEST choices.

Laurie - Welcome! The thing that switching up to a higher plan - if you don't do the lites, you also need the extra calories. . .same if you do a good amount of exercise a week. Also, it seems that you move down to the next lowest plan when you are about halfway through, or under 185? I'm scheduled to move to gold once I reach 183.

Carmen - I totally understand the day alone thing -

Britt - Way to Go on the good loss today! I am joining you in that happy dance! I was wondering if the cheesesteak was new since it actually had calories listed!

Star, I hope you have a terrific time! I bet your suitcases are relieved now that you are no longer opening and closing it!

Mandy, I understand about the goal weight fear - it's new territory to conquer, being at a non-dieting weight! Even now, in the back of my head, I'm wondering about a past-goal weight goal. This actually came up on the maintainers forum a few weeks ago - which started me thinking about it. And great news on the pants! I'm so glad that I can wear pants that I could wear two years ago and I am NOT a sausage in them!

About the BM thing - I asked once, just joking, should I write it in my diary?? give date and time?? They haven't asked the last few times,though, thank goodness!

Marci - LOL on your BM comment -why don't we ever have GUTS with these counselors??? It's like, when we walk in the door, we leave our courage outside. About lunch - the pizza is okay on the CC plan if we don't over do it - and for the desert, just hope you enjoyed every bite. If you didn't it's not worth it. Besides, life does happen - we will be OP for a long time, and awesome chocolate deserts are few and far between.

Hugs to all,
Julie

:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::dance: :dance::dance:

WTG JULIE!

I cannot wait until its time to put a big loss on my avatar. I am praying that tonight I might be just a little closer to that big 2-OH. We shall see! I am also going to try to get them to take my measurements today too. I am having a couple of "fatty" days though...where I look in the mirror and I seem to be a little bigger than I was yesterday. This is probably just in my mind and something that I will just have to work through.

You ladies who are close to goal brought up something that I think about often. How do you deal with being at goal? How do you deal with maintaining? Making smart choices should always be a part of life, yes, but man is there ever a thin line between considering your food choices and obsessing over what you eat.

Little victory for me this morning - I tried on some size 16 pants that someone gave me as hand me downs, and they buttoned, although they were still visibly too small. I'm getting there ladies! Woo Hoo!

:wave: Bye Chicks - I'll have a :cheers: for all of you :dizzy:
Be back next Friday..........
Have a great week and I hope you are all skinny when I get back :cheer: :goodluck:
Hugs

Carmen - I tried on a pair of 16's to go out in tonight - and they fit much better than a month ago. (I may wear them tonight, except they are an odd color green, and I need to find something to cover my butt!)) It WILL happen! Those 16's will fit, and soon you can buy your own pair to switch off with!

Julie

Well, did my WI and it went down a "tad" (2/10ths of a pound since Monday). Better part was, I had a good counselor this time who didn't make me feel rushed. I'm on the red plan, and she said to think of my portions as a chemical formula and that ANYTHING I add or subtract changes that formula. So I hung my head about my 2 hershey's kisses I have had, and said that made sense. She also actually read my journal and pointed out that what I thought was a big improvement in raiding the coworker's candy stash actually happened 3 out of 4 days! Yipes! I liked the reality check. She also let me put my name magnet up on the board - okay I am a sucker!

Amy and Julie - I had to buy the whole year of maintenance too. Maybe had I held out or pondered a second longer? No....I need the accountability part, so am going to chnage this cynical attitude of mine!

Not changing my tracker yet and am going to head to the store to see what all I can find that is OP. Been craving a Starbuck's Latte, so will actually break down and use some FF flavored dairy creamer in my coffee.

Will check in later!

Hello everyone went to WI today lost 1.2 pounds Yeah. However I had the evil counselor. She got mad at me because I accidently had an extra 1/2 fruit, she wrote in my chart as if I had commited a crime. I also accidently wrote down Malt-O-Meal, I told I have been using Cream of Wheat not Malt-o-Meal it was just a mistake. She also asked me why I had such a late lunch and I looked at her and asked her what do you mean I ate at 11:15, she said that she just got confused, because I told her I had ate out and that I shouldn't eat spinach and green beans from resturants because they might have put butter in them and that I should have eaten a Salad instead. I then looked at her and said "well I would have gotten a Salad if they weren't going to charge me 3.00 dollars extra, and I am aware that resturants prepare their vegatables differntly but I did make a better choice than normal which would have been Mac and cheese pre LAWL. She couldn't say anything after that.

Anyways, enough gripping point is I went down on the scale and I am happy. Congratulations to everyone else who had a weight loss.

Good information on the protein, it is very true, my cousing goes to a personal trainer and he has increased her protein so that she can build lean muscle.

Keep up the good work everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone on the losses...WTG... :cool: :cb:
Star....Hope you have a great time. We will miss you... ;)

WTG Julie and Haylo on your loss today!!! I guess we are part of the Losers Club huh hehe. Anyway just thought i would pop in here for a minute since i just got back from class. I also just found out that we are going to RED LOBSTER for dinner tonight. So i am going to be POP and get something new i think. I am on Take Off as you know so i have my list of what i can have. Cross your fingers that i dont do something im not supposed too lol i think my loss today will keep me motivated to stay on TO. Well im gonna get going everyone have a great night see ya tomorrow.

Britt

Britt...I'll check my e-mail when I get home...Thanks again. ;)

Ok Chicks, I'm just about out of here for the night so I'll talk to you all in the morning.. :D

Wow I have so many comments to make!
First thing is Congrats Julie for hitting the 35lb mark!

I had to buy a full year of maintenance also. I didn't know I had a choice. Oh well, I think it'll do me good. Just makes me mad that they don't let you know that you have a choice.

Metalchic- I agree. My self esteem is better and I look and feel better also. I also know that I am much healthier, so that is a good thing. I have worried a lot about gaining weight back. I need to start doing something about my problem areas too. I've just had one baby, but he seemed to really do a number to my stomach. It's like I have two stomachs or something. It has went down considerably with the weight loss, but there is still a bit there. I guess I just have to realize that this is what happens as you get older. I also have some other "saggy areas" I won't go into detail, but I wonder if they will shrink back up. I'm not thinking so, but I guess it won't hurt to try to get into shape and see what happens then. :) No matter what I look ok with my clothes on and my husband loves me the way I am. So I need to just be happy with myself too.

Chkli -That is what I am worried about. I don't want to gain weight back, but I also don't want to obsess over food/weight for the rest of my life. I guess that is where sticking with this healthy lifestyle will help. I can splurge every now and then because most of the time I'll be eating healthy. But you are right. That is a VERY thin line. Congrats on the pants. It always feel so great.

Haylo- wow I can't beleive they gave you a hard time about 1/2 a fruit. Also congrats on your weight loss!

I know that going out to eat with friends and family is a hard thing. You want to eat what everyone else is eating. We sometimes think that eating ='s happiness, fun etc. But I just want to say this. Nothing feels as good as overcoming those situations and choosing something healthy to eat instead. Especially when we see our efforts pay off at our next WI. (or in my case the next day. I'm crazy about weighing myself) I love what Julie said "I deserve the BEST choices" It's so true. I think I'm for sure going to steal that for my mantra. :) I also like the saying.. nothing tastes as good as being thin (or healthy) feels. That is so true also.

Julie- lol I totally know what you mean about not looking like a "sausage" in your pants. It just made me laugh because I've had old pants fit like that too and then I can slowly fit into them. Feels good once they actually fit. I must have read the same posts you did in the maintaners forum because that is what really got me thinking about it too. Of course I thought about it when I was at 235. I had a fear of losing the weight. I've been thinking about it a lot more lately. I will just have to make some fitness goals and I will still be doing lawl after I reach my goal, so I guess I won't be totally lost. But boy will it feel strange after that year is up. That seems soo far away now. I can't even imagine the day.

Ok I'm rambling (again). Have a good day everyone and congrats on all of the weight loss!

Mandy

Some chickies were asking how LAWL decides which color plan you should be on. So while I was at my parents today, I dug out the program info I had bought off ebay for my mom about 2 years ago. Now, this may have changed as the date on the bottom says 4/02.

Decide your ideal weight and subtract it from your current weight this will give you the amount you need to lose. Then plug it into the equation, so for me, I started at 175:

Decide your ideal weight, for me it is 140, so 140 +10 = 150 =Green
140 + 50 =190 = Gold, so if I weigh anywhere between 150 and 190 I would be on Gold until I reached 150 and go on Green. (I think they only use Green as a last ditch effort, I know my center is not too keen on it.) Now, I'm not sure why Gold and Red is + 50 lbs and Purple is +40 lbs. These could be incorrect and it's possible they have changed them. Maybe someone who ordered the new ebay package has a different system for figuring this out. But I have seen this same sheet at my center.

Healthy Females 18 to 65 years old:

Ideal weight + 10 lbs = Green
+ 50 lbs = Gold
+ 40 lbs = Purple
+ 50 lbs = Red
+100 lbs = Red Plus

Any weight greater than Red Plus, call for plan

Senior Females 65+:

Ideal weight +100 = Blue, +50 = Red, +100 = Red Plus
Greater than Red Plus, call, no further drop than Blue

Activity Greater than 5 hours per week, M & F:

Ideal weight + 150 = Red, +100 = Red Plus
Any weight greater than Red Plus, call for plan, No further drops than Red.

Shift Worker, M & F:

Ideal Weight + 100 = Blue, +50 = Red Plan, +100 = Red Plus
Greater than Red Plus, call. No further drops than Blue.

Oral and Food Controlled Diabetics, M & F:

Ideal + 100 = Blue, +50 = Red, +100 = Red Plus
Greater than Red Plus, call, no further drops than Blue.

Breast-feeding mothers and Insulin Diabetics would use either Red or Red Pls with no further drop than Red

I didn't inlcude the charts for Males, Cardiac Teenagers or Gout suffers, but I can post it if someone wants it.

In the past some chickies have posted that now if you do 3 or more hours of exercise you now get the Blue Plan.

I know its late, but i was a little upset with myself. I went for WI and went up 4/10's lb. my counselor is really nice, and said not to worry it happens midweek, but i felt so guilty. I just know it was from that 1/2 yeast roll last night that was off plan. the only thing my counselors fuss at me about is that i don't eat enough. I don't get all the fruits and vegies in.

I can't complain about the counselors where I go. Once I said that I won't be buying the lites, the regular girls I see don't even ask. The girl tonight, whom i haven't met with before, asked if I needed anything, and once I said no, she didn't press and went on. So far, no pressure to buy any extras.

So tonight, my DH made microwave popcorn, I know i'll pay for that, :(

Congratulations to everyone with weightloss. To those like me, keep your chin up, tomorrow is another day :D

metalchic: i am about 5'6, started in at 217 and thanks to my increase, now at 206. I didn't know we had a choice about the maint. program. I need to look at my contract to see what i agreed to.

Thanks everybody for the welcome, this place is great to have.

Need sleep!! See ya tomorrow :)

At my center today they had up new posters for the "Fast Forward" program. So, naturally I asked, "What's that" and naturally they didn't have an answer. No, I'm being too mean-spirited. I was told they are renaming the Take-off juice and plan and the juice might taste a little different but basically it will be the same 2 day procedure. However, on the poster it listed the ingredients as having 10 grams protein, L-carnitine, vitamins and something else I can't remember. I don't have a juice bottle here, so I can't check on the protein thing. As a point of reference, I am in NYC and my center is not a franchise but run by "Corporate". Speaking of Corporate, how you guys imagine the nutritionist, I imagine Corporate as some guy with a stogey in his mouth, jabbing at his calculator!

Oh, and I somehow managed to lose about 1.5 lbs from 163 to 161.2. Maybe the 3oz of wine I've had each night so far this week- ha! We also have a new counselor, which I had the pleasure of sitting with tonight. She is a very sweet, young girl, and you know she just got out of training because she was pushing all the extras. You know I only take the FB500s if I'm going to a restaurant, so I can really make a bottle last. So I told her they give me terrible gas and it was quite embarrassing. That ended that sales pitch.

We'll see how I do when I get back from DC.

Congrats to everyone who has lost, maintained and stuck with the plan no matter what the scale says!

Melissa

Hey, had a long post just about ready to post and lost it. So, I'll do my best at remembering what I wrote.

Julie: Congrats at being down again, those 12's are getting closer and closer! WTG!

Haylo and Video: Congrats to both of you too!

Metal and Mandy: I feel the same as you ladies. I do have to work on the self-esteem thing and be happy to be me. You see, two of my sister's and I started LA last April. Older still has 20 lbs to goal (but she goes out to dinner all the time so she's not in a rush to get it off, she looks a million times better), I have about 7 lbs to goal, and the younger one make it to her goal months ago. She is the same height as me, 5' 7" - her goal was 150 - and at that weight, she was wearing a size 4 or 6. I'm at 162.4 and still wearing 12s. I'm happy, but when I look at her - she looks much thinner than me - makes me feel fat all over again. It's not her fault, it must be a sister thing or somewhat of a competition sister thing. I'm working on that one.

Well, gotta run and will have to re-read some of the post so I remember what else I had to say. LOL!

Hugs, Sy

Good morning, chickies!

Thanks, everyone for the congrats - as I drove to the center yesterday I was repeating to myself - just be 193.8, just 193.8, and I almost fainted when it was!

I did okay at dinner - I had the chicken, and it was stuffed with spinach and something - likely cheese, but didn't finish it - found I had ordered the chocolate cake, and then found people to share it with -and then didn't finish it - so today I can stay totally POP, and get in lots of those H2O cocktails. I did wear those size 16 pants (TORE the sales tag off them!), and no one looked at me like I was Miss Sausage!

I bet Star is at the airport - I bet she has a terrific time!

Sy - I understand about the sister syndrome - my sister is about 1-2 inches taller than me, and used to be very slender -although she's put on some weight in the past few years - but she's just built differently then I am - she's not as bottom heavy, so her legs will always be better! (but I may have a better waist :D )

Melissa -First WTG on the WL! If wine is the answer, I guess I need MORE! I saw a new promotion on at my center too - but everything was in such an uproar because of the audit, that no one told me about it. I do have a juice bottle here, and the old formulation doesn't have protein in it. It sounds like they are trying to go to a more low-carb/hi protein formulation for TO.

Hi Laurie! First of all, don't beat yourself up on 1/2 a yeast roll! But yes, you do need those veg - they keep my stomach fuller, and I have to CHEW longer! We will be on this weight loss thing for a long time, and we need to learn to be our own best friends, and forgive ourselves, and put our slip ups behind us - every day is a new chance to get it right. If we got it right all the time, we wouldn't be in the place we are now, right?

Britt -how did you do at Red Lobster last night?

Haylo - WTG on your loss, and being truthful to your counselor - I don't think they understand sometimes how expensive it can be to get that extra salad when we eat out - (or to eat 8oz of chicken every day) - and that NOT ordering that Mac and Cheese is a victory in itself!

Mandy, you are right about the feeling about picking the best thing when we eat out - I mean how bad is it to choose the healthy option? But it is also true that sometimes I just get tired of watching what I eat, and then I rebel and pick the WORST option. Luckily, those times happen less and less often. I also think that it is true that when I start a diet, I am really motiviated for a few months (for me it's about three) and then I go on a relaxed period - oh, I can have this or that once and a while - and then after about a month of that, I get frustrated again, and go back to the diet - not sure if this happens to anyone else? I will say this - the chickies here have helped me stay on track longer than I was with WW!

Hugs to all, and skinny vibes!

Julie

Hi, All -

Just wanted to update the post on the worksheet since I found the explanation of how to use it. I'll use Healthy Female as an example:

Say I would like my ideal weight to be 140:

140 + 10 = 150 = Green
+50 = 190 = Gold
+40 = 230 = Purple
+50 = 280 = Red
+100 = 380 = Red Plus

So, for me who started at 175, I was put on Gold because I was between 190 & 150 lbs. My sister who started with me was 210, so since she was between 230 & 190 she started on Purple and then would drop to gold at 190 or so, etc, etc,

Hope this makes more sense. Like I said, this sheet is dated 4/02 so they might have changed it with the new plan and exercise guidelines.

Sy - I'm 5'6, and 161.2 (yesterday, today's a new day) and I wear a twelve also. When I got down to 145, I was still wearing a 10, there were some 8s I could wear, but I was still fairly broad in the hips and shoulders, so it really depended on the manufacturer. My sister, who is about 5'5" also got to 145 and she was wearing 8's and 6's. However, she is pearshaped and very tiny on top and wider on the bottom.

Mandy and all - In regard to hitting goal and stabilization, maintenance, etc., when I reached 145 I was able to maintain it for about 6 months or so, then I creeped back up to 150, held that for a year, and now at 161. Not through any fault of LAWL, but my own insecurities. For years I told myself when I lose this weight I'm going to get out of this dead end relationship, get a new job, travel more, etc., etc. It's not that I thought my life was going to magically change, it was more that I was using the weight to put off doing anything else. So, when I didn't follow through on my promises to myself, I ate out of self-loathing? I have to really focus on "the weight is just the weight", yes feeling better about myself gives me more self confidence, but being thinner didn't make them any easier to deal with. I've had to learn to "live in the moment", and not put off things until one part of my life was "perfect". Like once I was thin, I wouldn't have to worry about it and could deal with other things. It's all mental with me! This is my own experience, with how much importance I put on losing weight and how I sabotaged maintaining the loss. Not sure if this all makes any sense, but it's something I've been trying to work on.

Have a good day everyone,
Melissa

Bravo Melissa! I, too, have been in that trap of waiting for a perfect life when I was at a perfect weight! I finaly convinced myself that it was okay for me to start travelling, and to start doing what I really want - to just look at the weight as weight, and not let it 'weigh' me down.

I will say this, too -that the last time I was at goal weight, it was a terrific confidence booster - it made me feel like I could do anything - but then I had to find someplace to put my energy. (that was really tough - and probably part of the reason that I gained weight again, along with a tough relationship with a man that I did stop, and a job that I was really tired of - which I did stop, and then after a few months, decided to tackle the weight and joined LAWL)

So, I think to rephrase this - after I reach goal weight, I need to find someplace to put the emotional energy - and I guess I should start trying to find it now, hmmmm

Julie

Good Morning Chickies :wave: I started my Plan Today. I am on the purple Plan. I had my 3/4cup of All Bran with 4 0z of Skim Milk, Drank the other 4 0z's. My Coffee with I packet of Splenda and Tablespoon of FF Coffee Mate. Right now I am eating my Orange and drinking a Cup of Decaf Mint Green Tea. I have a hard time getting my bottles of water in Each Day. If I do Decat Green Tea does that count as Water?

Good Morning Chicks,
Here we are together again... :D Although we are missing Star... :(
I remember when I lost 30 pounds last time. I felt so good about myself even though I still had about 20 pounds to go. I think at that point, I got alittle cocky :lol: and thought I wouldn't gain anything back...Boy, was I ever wrong...So, one thing I have learned is, first of all, I'm not stopping until I get to goal which is 130 for me. The other thing is, that I will always have to watch what I eat and be very careful... :dizzy:
I'm 5' 1.5" and at 150 pounds I was still in a 14. Isn't it something how your body type can be so different from someone else that is the same height.
But anyway, good luck to anyone that has a weigh in today... :o Mine is tomorrow morning.. :p
I'll check back in later...

Hi Irish! I think decaf tea will count, but if you can would still try to get in some regular water - could you try to float some lemon or lime in it to give it some flavor? Also, try a straw - it seems to make it go faster, and I feel like a kid when I use one.

Hi Karen! - yes, a number on the scale is no guarantee of size worn. . .

Hi Everyone! :wave:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LOSERS! WOO HOO!

I am sad to say that I went to WI last night and I wasn't a loser. Not a gain, just not a loss. Exactly the same. Which is okay. I lost my diary and wasn't keeping track of what I was eating, although I THOUGHT I did pretty well about staying OP. Well, today is a new day, I have a new book and diary, so its ON now. I will go WI again on Friday though...just to be sure that I am on the right track. They took my measurements and found that I've lost a total of 4 inches.

Last night I had the counselor with the funky attitude. There are 2 really nice counselors there, there is one who is so-so, and then there is this one in particular. She seems nice enough, but when you tell her that either you don't want to buy anything or that you can't afford to buy anything she looks at you like you've slapped her mother or something. I know that's their livelihood or whatever but, lighten up will ya?

My center is being audited too. The "mean" counselor was more polite than I have ever seen her. She took all my measurements voluntarily, even did my blood pressure!

You all make very good points about maintanence. I don't think it will be possible for me to maintain without a support system in place, so thank God I have found you all.

Carm

Good Morning all!!!!

Well im into day two of TO and lets just say i cant wait for tomorrow lol
I usually get hungry when i do TO i guess because you are going from so much food on the red plan to like nothing on the TO lol. Anyway im downing water right now to help with the hunger im experiencing since Lunch is still about an hour and half away lol.

Julie i was almost perfect last night. I got broiled flounder (which was good) with broccoli and salad so that was all OP for TO i did have two of the stuffed mushrooms (not as bad as the cheese sticks that were on the same plate lol) and I did have one bad thing a cheddar biscuit :( All in all i think i did really well for going out to eat on a TO night. My scales said i was down another lb this morning so im crossing my fingers. I would love another 1.5-2lbs drop when i got to WI tomorrow.

School is now over for the week for me YAY!!! I had a test this morning and i got an 85 (thats a B) before extra credit is added and I dont remember how much i have but im hoping i have at least 5 points so i can get an A. I also got my paper back that i turned in tuesday got a B- on that YAY! She grades really hard. So i am so excited this has turned out to be a great week after all and im going to have a FAB weekend going to my BF. Im going to take a quiz online in a few minutes and then work on some school work so i dont have to this weekend haha.

Man i cant wait for my chicken and salad at lunch lol. How is everyone doing on their H2O today??? Im on my second bottle (16.9 oz each). Ill check back in later im gonna take my quiz online really quick.

Britt

Hey Britt. Way to go on dinner last night. Red Lobster while on TO? That's tough. On water, I am doing okay....Just started my 2nd bottle, 16.9 oz as well.

Today my best friend is coming down here to meet me for lunch. We are going to go to Houlihan's. I am going to have the grilled salmon salad with dressing on the side, with MORE WATER. Got to get the loss flowing again!

LOL Carmen i hear ya on the water let it FLOW!!! THanks for the congrats and about Red Lobster i guess it wasnt all that bad but knowing i had to make healthier choices and knowing i had such a good WI yesterday i just couldnt blow it out of the water lol. Your lunch sounds great!! I am on the way to have my chicken and salad as we speak!!!

Britt

Hey all just checking in. Trying to get all the water in. Working on 3rd 8oz.
Going to grocery tonight to get fruit, need the food to stay OP.

Text: thanks for the pick me up. :)

does anyone know if we can have A-1 steak sauce, I forgot to ask.

Have a great day!

Scrapmom

wtg on your water keep up the good work. Im not sure about A-1 its not listed on our condiments list but i did look up the nutritional info on it

serving size 1 tbsp
Calories 15
Fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 280 mg
Carbs 3 g
Protein 0

If it were me i would have it occasionally as a treat maybe. But would stick to only 1 tbsp tops. If you have it im not sure what it would count as. 80% of the calories come from carbs! Wow its amazing what you find out when you read the label. Ok i just called my center cause well now I want to know the answer. She said and i quote "is it listed on your condiments? if not then No cant have it" So like i said i might have it every now and then but i think its really high on sodium and carbs (sugar 2 g) so stay away from it if you can. Hope that helps!

Britt

Good Morning!

I'm at 157.8 today. woohooo! That's almost a pound loss from yesterday. I guess my body decided it was ready to let go. I've been losing a tiny bit at a time for this past week. I'm pretty sure I'm still averaging about 2 pounds a week though. I need to go into the center today. I've been only going once a week lately. Sometimes my 2 1/2 year old can be such a handful when I go that it's just not worth going.

Julie- You are so right about the cycle. I've done it a few times throughout this year. I'm super motivated, then I get relaxed and then I get so frustrated, but it's even more than being frustrated, it's like I get sick to my stomach and think why did I do that! Then I get back on track again. But nothing is worth that feeling to me anymore. I guess I just want to save everyone from having that feeling, but I suppose it's just part of the process. Now when I had that feeling it was more when I had went off plan for a few days or more. Occasionaly it would be when I would gain 2 to 3 pounds at one meal (now I'm realizing that it was just water weight). But I'm all for everyonce in a while giving in and having a yummy meal. (I just did that about two weeks ago, but paid for it for about a week grr). I guess it's just not coming out how I want it to. I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

Videochick-Thank you for posting all of that info. I just bought the plan off ebay the other day. It supposed to be for the new spring 05 plan. Here is what it said.

18-65 years Female

Ideal+10 = GREEN
Ideal+25 = GOLD
Ideal+60 = PURPLE
Ideal+80 = RED
Ideal+100=RED (don't know if that is supposed to be red plus or not it just said red)

everything else on your sheet was the same as mine.

Sy- I totally understand how you feel. I had a best friend in high school who was always thinner than me. I was usually a size 7-8, but I think she must have been a six or smaller. I was also athletic and she was very petite (still is). Anyway, I ALWAYS felt huge next to her. Now looking back I realize that I looked great and should have been happy with myself. It's hard not to compare ourselves with others. My husband is 5'6" and weighs 145. He isn't scrawny he's just shorter and very fit. I feel so huge compared to him. It was worse obviously when I was 235, but even at around 157 (ok 157.8 :)) I still feel really big. I need to fatten him up. I'm 5'7" and I wear a size 10 and some 8's. But really 12's wouldn't be all that big on me. Suppose it just depends on the style.

Melissa-great post! (lol I just realized that you are also videochick, so I'm talking to you in two different sections of this post. :dizzy: )You are so right about not putting things off until you are at the perfect weight. That is really good advice. I think that I struggled with that the whole time. It really is all a mental thing isn't it? I've put tons of importance on my weightloss. Mainly thinking that I would by truly happy and my marriage would be perfect (I have a great marriage, but it can always be better) and that I would have a wonderful self esteem etc. Well, now that I'm almost there I'm realizing that my problems were not all caused by weight and sometimes I wonder if the weight was just a symptom of my problems.

Well, I have so much more to say, but DH is home sick today from school and work, so I should go rescue him from DS. :) Talk to you all soon.


Mandy

Did anyone here get a slight headache your first day of LAWL

I did, but I was doing Take Off, and think it was the drastic change is carbs. It went away once i was on the regular plan.

Hi chickies!

I'm facing the tax monster today, so have not been online so much -

About the A-1 sauce - I agree with Britt, it's something to watch out for especially if you're sensitive to sodium and water retention.

Britt - you did so good last night (and today, too!) I'm going to see if I can follow your example this weekend. . .You are singing 'schools out for the summer' , right (you probably don't remember that song. . .Maybe Karen/RWF will?)

Carmen - hope you enjoyed your lunch! Staying the same weight at WI is perfectly fine :D . . . that's quite an accomplishment! I agree with you about the support system - all the way down the scale to maintainence (and beyond of course)

Hi Mandy- we all have areas of our lives we need to work on, no, whether we are thin or fat. Obviously, I have to work on procrastination - like the taxes!

Hugs (I'll try to check in later)
Julie

I had horrific headaches for about the first two weeks of LAWL due to caffine withdrawls. I have migraines, and I drank Pepsi 24/7 before LAWL. When I went off of Pepsi cold turkey, it triggered multiple caffine withdrawl migraine headaches.

My headaches got better after my body adjusted to not having the caffine everyday....all day. I still have to drink a little Pepsi every now and then when I get a migraine to help get rid of it. Strange how caffine works; it helps my migraines and withdrawl causes headaches. Oh well... sucks to be me.

Karen, truthfully, I never really gave up caffeine. I don't drink sugar soda's that much, but do start off the day with a few cups of coffee, and drink both regular and decaf tea all day long (along with water) --

any suggestions how to get rid of them aside from taking mass amounts Tylenol?

Happy Thursday ya'll!

Had my weigh in today and I'm down 7.6 pounds in my first 10 days. :) That'll work.

Question - how long do you all normally have to wait for your weigh ins? Yesterday I sat in the front for 30 minutes and finally just had to leave and come back today. Just curious if that's normal. :) I went today and got right in, though! YAY!

Has anyone tried the soups? Are they any good?

Britt and Julie - Lunch was grrrreat (and long)! I had the salmon salad and loads of water. My GF had this stuff called cauli-mash, that was made of cauliflower but tasted a bit like mashed potatoes. It was from their low carb menu. I tasted it and it was really good, just very loaded with garlic. GF told me that I looked great. I appreciated that.

Mandy - congrats on the loss! You are so close. I am excited for you. I don't think that being at goal will be anticlimactic for you, because once you are there you will be able to say...just look what I have done. :D

Irish - I also suffer from severe headaches, and I think that they, along with my nosebleeds are related to my high blood pressure. When I first started LA though, I was downright sick for the first 3 days. My Dr. said it was likely from sugar withdrawal. The sickness went away after a few days, once my body got used to the shock of going without the refined sugars. About the headaches though, I only use Excedrine on mine because it works very fast to get rid of them. Their migraine formula is superb. One of the reasons it works so fast is that it has caffeine in it. Here's a tip too: when I take the Excedrin, I wash it down with some diet coke, for the added caffeine. I was never a hardcore caffeine addict, but I do have a cup of coffee about 3 mornings a week.

Fashn - The time varies for me, but I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes. But if you go on Saturday afternoon I'm told you could possibly be waiting forever. Oh and the soup? I've tried both varieties and I detest them both. I still have some at home that I refuse to eat. I'm thinking I could probably use them as a gravy or something, but never got around to trying it.

LOL yes Julie i remember that song and i am soooooo singing that right now!! My worst semester by far.

congrats to all the LOSERS!!!!!!!

Carmen glad you had a good lunch! Where did you eat again?

Fashn I had to wait about 30 minutes yesterday as well. It just varies for myself i try to go when they open at 9am sometimes its busier than others then. I like to weight as early as possible cause you generally weigh less in the mornings especially before you have so much food during the day. Most of the time i dont have to wait at all.

Ok all this water and TO juice has me in the bathroom a lot today lol. I better go for a little bit ill check back in later.

Britt

Marissa...Congratulations on the loss... :cool: WTG
Julie and Britt...I remember the song as well. Now you all have me singing it...And I wish I was off work... :lol:
As far as the caffeine goes, I have coffee every morning, one or two diet cokes (sometime caf and decaf) and decaf iced tea with dinner..Then water, water, water all day. I think I'm always drinking something. I have one of those 32 oz. insulated cups with the lid and straw that I keep filled at all times. I keep one here at work and at home...I stopped drinking it with ice. It goes down much better that way... :o

Hey y'all! I'm not lost! :dizzy: I've been reading all along, just kind of not in a real social mood til now. Crazy, I know!

RE: headaches/caffeine - I was (and am) a caffeine fiend, Mountain Dew being my :devil: of choice. I've gone cold turkey several times in my life, and usually I'll last several weeks to several months, but it's soooo easy to slide back into that 3-to-4-can-a-day habit! It's a good thing I'm not a smoker, because my health would be in serious trouble, with my utter lack of willpower! Anyway, I also go through withdrawal headaches every time, and like Metalchic I deal with migraines, too, and the caffeine always helps...usually it's a migraine that starts my Dew habit back up!

I have been sooooo bad lately, I don't even want to get on the scale at home. And those of you that have been around a while know that I'm obsessive about my scale, so that's saying something! They gave me a new diary at my last WI, I haven't written a word in it yet. I think I'm off to the store tonight to pick up some Knudsen's juice. So anyway, glad I got that off my chest. ;)

Fiona

I like my water room temperature, as well Karen! :)

BTW, regular Excedrine and Excedrine Migraine are identical. Same combo of aspirin and acetominophin, same amount of caffeine. The one I like is Excedrine Tension Headache, which I think is just acetominophin and caffeine, no aspirin.

Fiona

"Schools out for Summer" by Alice Cooper........:dancer:
(Released 12/8/1972)

Well we got no choice
All the girls and boys
Makin all that noise
'Cause they found new toys
Well we can't salute ya
Can't find a flag
If that don't suit ya
That's a drag

School's out for summer
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Well we got no class
And we got no principles (principals)
And we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes

School's out for summer
School's out forever
My school's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Out for summer
Out 'til fall
We might not come back at all

School's out forever
School's out for summer
School's out with fever
School's out completely
I graduate next month....:encore:

Karen...Thanks for the memories.... :lol:

Karen Congrats!!!!! I wish i was gradating next month lol. I have just found out that it will take me an extra semester to graduate but that means that my BF and I will be graduating the same semester i hope its on different days so that I can go if he decides to walk. He is just getting his licensure to teach he already has a degree so Im not sure if he is gonna walk. But that seems so far off lol.

Britt

Hey girls, It seems like everyone is doing well, and busy.

Marissa: I have tried the soups, they gave me samples, but I think they are disgusting.


Well I wish I had time to chat but, I have a study group. I am kind of worried because they are bringing pizza for dinner. I know it's on plan, and I am planning on taking of the toppings, it just seems weird that I am going to eat pizza, I feel like I have been eating so healthy and then to put something greasy in me sounds kind of gross. We will see what happens. Wow! I can't believe I think that pizza might sound gross,especially since it is one of my favorite foods.

Hello there,

I get migranes a lot also and like Fiona, I like Exedrin Tension Headache. It works well for me. I think that I've heard that water is supposed to help with regular headaches. But for me I take ibprofen or excedrin. Drinking caffeine can help also.

You guys made me think about my Coke/Pepsi addiction. I used to have the 5 and 6 can a day habit. It was the hardest thing to start drinking diet pop, but eventually I started actually liking it. :) Anyway, now I'm down to about 1 or none a day and that is just amazing to me! But I still occasionaly will order a real Coke and drink a few drinks and then get rid of it. I guess it makes me feel like I'm not completely depriving myself. It's funny how we sometimes have to trick ourselves.

Metal and Britt-congrats on the schooling!:bravo: My DH (26) just started school this spring term. I see all the work that he has to put into school and work and family and I just admire him for that. Anyway, I admire you guys too! I'm sure you've probably posted this here already, but what are you each going to school for?

Marissa-I tried one of the soups once and I did not like it at all.Yuck. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try it. I also tried one of the la lite drinks before and I didn't like that either. Also Congrats on the weight loss!!

Fiona-I'm obsessive about my scale too! Good to know I'm not alone. :) Anyway, I did the same thing about a week ago. I gained 3 pounds in two days. I did the knudens and it really helped me get back on track again, so I think that is a good idea. Good luck.

Haylo- It really is a cool thing to see our eating habits change and the foods that we crave change (although I'll probably always crave pizza and mexican food). Last summer I remember going off plan at a campout type family reunion. I ate tons of bratwurst and stuff like that. It made me feel so sick I had this horrible taste in my mouth for a day or so. Also during the holidays I had two episodes like that. I ate "normal" food all day long on Christmas eve and spent a lot of the night in the bathroom. It was so weird because that is how I ate before and it never caused that reaction. It also made me realize that anything that makes my body feel like this must not be too healthy.

Irish- I think you are the one who asked how much weight we lost in the first week. I think I lost around 7 pounds the first week. 5 on take off and then 2 after that. I think I'm going to call and ask the center just out of curiousity. I have to get prepped for my LAWL commercial. ;)

Julie-good luck with the taxes. I feel for ya. :p that is just to cheer you up. I always think these smilies are so cute, but forget to use them. :dizzy: :wave:

Chkli-Thanks for the encouragement. I think you are right. It'll be great to reach a goal. I'm sort of a person that doesn't stick with things. This is a huge accomplishment for me not just losing the weight, but achieving a goal.

Talk to you chickies later.

Mandy

Hi chickies

Blech taxes. I hope the numbers change overnight. . .

Haylo - I think one of the hardest things for us overweight chickies is to be a little high maintainence - to ask for the dressing on the side, or to blot the extra oil from the top of the pizza - and to ask for a veg pizza instead of sausage.

Karen - congrats on graduating next month - that's terrific! Thanks for finding the words of the song - it's stuck in my head now, too.

Marisa - sometimes I have to wait to WI, too - my center does allow us to weigh ourselves and put the weight info on a sticky on top of the file cabinets if it gets too crazy and we can't wait. If they have a lot of new people in, it can take longer with the various questions. BTW - being down over 7 pounds in 10 days is TERRIFIC.

Hey, Fiona, wondered what was up with you, chickie - you have gone through so much since New Years - it is not surprising that something is giving - DH's new job, new gym, major walk coming up, new house, new horse (and one to come!)

Hugs to all,
Julie

Ok Chicks, It's time to do my paperwork so I can get out of here. I hope everyone has a great night. Talk to you all in the morning... ;)

Hello all!

Doing my evening check-in. Always so good to come home and relax reading all of your successes and suggestions. :goodvibes

Julie - Taxes! Ughhh! I tossed my extension in the mail. I need to find more deductions! :dizzy:

Congratulations to the soon-to-be graduates! I was a late-bloomer and finished a couple of years ago. What a relief, but there is a part of me that really misses it. Now why couldn't I have felt that way the first go-round? Someday I may go on, and on, and on... What am I saying?! :yikes:

Fashn - I have had to wait a couple of times, but the person who saw me was always apologetic after.

You all have motivated me to start picking up the exercising-end of my program. Been using the treadmill more and will put the silly retrofits on my BowFlex so I can knock the dust off it tomorrow. Had a good POP day - I keep hearing the counselor's voice yesterday telling me even 2 Hershey's kisses will screw up the loss "formula." :nono: Even resisted the white chocolate chip cookies the women had for their graduation from treatment today - and that was a biggie for me.

Okay, time to go walk the hounds and then try the tangy pork chop recipe for dinner! Keep on, keeping on doing what you all have been doing so well!

Hello everyone, I am back from my study group. I am so proud of myself I did exactly as planned took off the pepperoni and dabed off the oil which is is a normal habit anyways. :D I filled myself up on vegtables and fruit before I went, and of course I had my LA lite, and it worked. I couldn't eat more then two pieces. YEAH. Tomorrow is WI, so hopefully all goes well. ;) It's funny as hard as I thought this plan was going to be I have found myself enjoying it. :lol: You guys have definatly helped. I hope everyone has a good day tommorrow. :D

Congratulation on all the people who will be graduating. I hope to be finished with my Master's in December. I hadn't thought about till right now but I could definatly use that as my motivation for losing weight. :cool:

Oh yeah, I forgot. I have been reading all the posting on migranes. I am not sure if these is true but I do remember that one of the Supplements that LAWL sells. I think the TRIMax Plus is supposed to help with migraines. I don't get migraines,but I get these terrible sinus headaches. Funny thing is that I have been taking my supplements all week and today I forgot them at home and didn't take them, and wouldn't you know, I have one of those awful sinus headaches. Anyways, I don't know if that is just coincidental or what but it is definatly something to think about. Maybe, I should start testing it out. Hopefully, I haven't gotten addicted to the Supplements :o

Hi Everybody. :wave:

I suppose everyone has signed off for the evening. Guess what? My computer is magically working so now I can post. Yeah baby. I am online looking for something about eating plans for children...my 11 year old DS. He's having a bad body image day, which was not helped by my DH. It seems they had a talk today about my DS going out for football, and my DH was less than tactful :foot: about DSs weight, leaving me to pick up the pieces. :mad: I am more than a little bit miffed about it all too.:mad: If he can be so insensitive about our DS, I wonder what he sees when he looks at me???? I feel a chill settling over the house, do you feel me ladies? :nono: I would say what's really on my mind, but I don't want our moderator to have to censor me. Get my drift? I don't know what he is thinking sometimes.:doh: GEESH.

Anyway, isn't it Smiley who has a child doing a modified version of the plan with her DD? If so, I need your help, and anyone else out there who may have some pointers. Thanks in advance you all, and goodnight.

haha! Thanks for the advice about the soups, everyone! After reading numerous replies about how gross they are you can bet your bonett I won't be getting any. :)

Hope everyone has an awesome evening and an even better Friday!

Good morning ladies,

I'm in a training class this week and haven't had a chance to catch up on the posts, but went to the Center of Doom Wednesday and was up about 1.4 lbs even with being pretty much on plan...maybe an extra fruit, but nothing serious. They measured me (first time in 3 months) and I've lost 6 inches, but I've only lost 10 lbs in theose 3 months....at this rate I'm never going to get done. Went last night to WI and was up .8 again for no apparent reason....I'm getting a little frustrated and crazy. Then they said the dreaded word....Nutrutionist....yes, ladies, they have my diary and are consulting the person who sits in their living room wearing a bathrobe for most of the day....sigh....

thanks for letting me vent....I'll try to catch up on posts tonight.

Take care,
Jen

For those who don't know my history....I've lost nearly 55lbs, still have about 19 to go and am on the red plan because I exercise more than 5 hours a week. They moved me to red at the end of Jan, but I haven't seen much progress....

Thanks for all the congrats!

I am going to graduate with an A.A.S. in Office Systems Technology. I am also a late-bloomer. I am 30! I didn't even care about going back to school until I was laid off about three years ago. I found a government program to pay for it since I was laid off, and my children were old enough to look after themselves while I was at school. There is no way I would have been able to afford or handle trying to find someone to look after them every night that I had class. It has been hard, but I made it through. At some points during my classes I have worked two jobs and still maintained a full-time student load. LAWL has even made my schedule more challenging. I don't get off work until 5 p.m. and have to be in class at 5:30 p.m. that makes it hard, so I bring snacks and then I have to eat LATE (9-9:30 p.m.); but I have managed. The ridiculous schedule that I have had is part to blame for my weight problems to begin with I gained 30lbs in 6 months while trying to maintain this schedule. At that point is when I decided to do something about it! So I started LAWL. I wasn't too sure how I was going to fit it in, but I have managed to work it out.

Chkli: Men don't understand. Most men do not care about their own weight; and when they decide to loose weight, it is much easier for them. I am sure if he is speaking out about your DS's weight that he would speak out about yours if he had a problem with it.

I have seen this great bumper sticker that speaks the truth.

"I may be fat; but you are ugly, and I can loose weight!"

Just remember, even with weight problems; we are still beautiful! Honestly, haven't you seen alot of UGLY skinny people :chin: :yes:

We could have bigger problems! ;)

:crazy: :crazy:TGIF!!! :crazy: :crazy:

Good Morning Chicks...
Karen..That was so funny..Ugly skinny people.. :lol:
I think you all are doing great with the plan. I'm glad my plate isn't that full..But then again, I don't have a degree either.. :o
I got on the scales this morning. Down .2, which puts me at a total of 4.8 WOOHOO.. :D I know that isn't much, but the best part is that I'm back in the 160's... :cool: Granted it's 169.8 but still the 160's... :lol:
I'm off this weekend so we'll see how I handle this plan over the next 4 days... :dizzy: Oh, I'm off Monday and Tuesday too but I'll be posting from home...
We will be working on the camper this weekend to get it ready to go to Talladega. I have to start now because after I have these 4 days off, I'm not off again until we leave (the 27th) after work of course...
Beverley....Where are you... :?:
Hi to everyone and I'll check back in later...
Haylo...That's interesting on the TriMax..Let me know if you get anymore sinus headaches while taking them. I get them really bad too and that might be worth checking into...Hmmm

Good Morning Chickies!!! :wave: Well I am on to day two of my plan. I am feeling a Little guilty though. Last night my next door neighbor had a Southern Living party, and I saved two of my fruit servings for one glass of wine. Which I know is a big :nono: She also had a ton of good food, which is hard for me to resist esp. Cheesecake I :love: it.

But I was good :strong: I didn't have any of the Cheescake or Quiche, or pizza, If I absolutely couldn't resist the urge I picked up a bite of cantaloupe, strawberry, or a grape. I think I felt more guilty about the wine though. It was red Shiraz by Yellow Tail, and I felt that If I didn't drink what the hostess had poured then it would be rude of me. I was offered beer, mixed drinks but stuck to my red wine.

Feeling so guilty today...am I crazy?